2020:043 - Townplots West, Killala, Mayo

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Mayo Site name: Townplots West, Killala

Sites and Monuments Record No.: MA022-017 Licence number: C000977; E005116

Author: Richard Crumlish

Site type: Post-medieval building

Period/Dating:

ITM: E 520386m, N 830050m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.213160, -9.220568

The test excavation of a site in advance of its development at Steeple Hill, Killala, Co. Mayo, was carried out between 27 February and 4 March 2020. The proposed development consisted of the demolition of a dwelling house and the construction of a new dwelling house and all associated site works. The testing was carried out in response to a Request for Further Information by the local authority and was necessary due to the location of the proposed development within the historic town of Killala (MA022-017) and its proximity to Killala Round Tower (MA022-017001), which is a National Monument (No. 105).
The site contained an unoccupied two-storey dwelling constructed in the mid-20th century. To the east (front) of the dwelling was an overgrown 3.4m wide area, while immediately to the south was a narrow alleyway. No features of archaeological significance were in evidence within the proposed development site.
Two trenches were excavated by hand to best cover the area of the proposed development which was accessible, i.e. the overgrown area immediately east of the dwelling and the narrow alleyway to the south. The trenches measured 4m and 8m long respectively; 1m wide and 0.15-1.5m deep.
Below the concrete and rubble fill in the trench immediately east of the dwelling were the remains of a vernacular building, in the form of a stone flag floor and two parallel mortared rubble walls, above two fills which contained modern pottery. A sterile grey clay found at the base of the test trench appeared to be natural subsoil. The building uncovered was marked on the 1st edition of the Ordnance Survey six-inch map which was surveyed in 1837.
The second trench, in the alleyway, revealed evidence of modern disturbance associated with the adjacent 20th-century dwelling, i.e. a concrete man-hole and associated ceramic sewer pipe, a water service and rubble fill.

4 Lecka Grove, Castlebar Road, Ballinrobe, County Mayo