2020:230 - Ballynamony, Leitrim

A programme of pre-development test trenching in advance of the proposed development of a Community Nursing Unit at Ballynamony, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim.
The north-eastern boundary of the proposed development, comprising an earthen hedge-lined ditch, appeared to traverse LE031-003— Ringfort. The ringfort was discernible as a change of vegetation in the adjacent field north-east of the development area but with no visible surface traces within the proposed development area. Aerial imagery indicated that a portion of fosse of the ringfort may be present within the proposed development area. Adjacent to this was a sub-circular feature identifiable in the aerial image which may be a previously unidentified archaeological feature – a small enclosure or hut site.
Test trenching took place on 7 December 2020 and three test trenches were mechanically excavated in the vicinity of the ringfort within the proposed development area. A further trench was excavated in the footprint of the proposed entrance and access road for the proposed Community Nursing Home.
Each test trench was mechanically excavated using a graded bucket 1.9m wide. A total of four test trenches were excavated, Test Trenches 1-3 were in Field 1 and excavated 10m apart and parallel with one another. Test trench 1 was excavated at the point closest to the ringfort and within the zone of archaeological notification for this monument. In Field 2 Test Trench 4 was excavated in the footprint of the proposed access road for the Community Nursing Unit.
The total area excavated comprised 366m of trench. All trenches were excavated to the top of the boulder clay. Depths of soil cover varied across the site with an average depth of 0.3m. No material, feature or finds of an archaeological nature were uncovered in any of the test trenches.

Cooldrumman Upper, Carney, Co. Sligo