2019:425 - Bun Daire, Kinnegad, Westmeath

An archaeological assessment including test trenching and an excavation area was carried out in advance of the proposed construction of twelve houses in a greenfield site in the suburbs of Kinnegad town.

A previous programme of testing and partial excavation was undertaken in 2006 at the location of an original proposed housing scheme, immediately to the west of the current site. The archaeological works were carried out following the discovery during construction works of a previously unidentified burial ground. The archaeological investigation was undertaken on behalf of Westmeath County Council under licence 06E0448 (Fintan Walsh). The results of the investigation confirmed that the site was an early medieval burial ground with an inner enclosing ditch and a possible outer enclosing ditch that was likely to have been established in the mid-sixth century AD.

Following these investigations the site was reinstated in line with a re-design of the housing project that would include the burial ground preserved in situ. The reinstatement was carried out in 2008 and reported on under the previous licence.

The 2019 archaeological investigation was carried out in advance of the construction of the re-designed housing development project. Test trenches were excavated across the site and an area was opened, targeted on the anticipated location of the outer enclosure ditch identified in the previous phase of works.

The test trenches did not reveal any archaeological features, however a length of linear ditch was located within the open area. This ditch is almost certainly a continuation of the outer enclosure ditch associated with the early medieval burial ground to the immediate west. A small amount of animal bone recovered from the ditch would be typical of early medieval domestic food waste. The ditch lies within an area earmarked for green space as part of the housing development and will be preserved in situ.

Ahish, Ballinruan, Crusheen, Co. Clare