2020:292 - Roosky, Mayo

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Mayo Site name: Roosky

Sites and Monuments Record No.: None Licence number: 20E0397

Author: Richard Crumlish

Site type: Burnt spread

Period/Dating:

ITM: E 532361m, N 775051m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.720739, -9.024819

The test excavation of a site in advance of its development at Roosky townland, on the western outskirts of Claremorris in County Mayo, was carried out between 10 and 14 August 2020. The proposed development consisted of the construction of a new equestrian centre. The testing was part of a Request for Further Information from Mayo County Council and was required due to the size of the site and the scale of the proposed development.
The site consisted of a large field of pasture, located immediately east of a farm, which sloped gently down from south to north. No archaeological features were visible during the field walking of the site and there were no recorded monuments located within or in the immediate vicinity of the site.
The testing consisted of the excavation of eight trenches, located to best cover the area of the proposed development. The trenches measured 130m, 229.6m, 230.2m, 249.5m, 249.8m, 300m, 320m and 115m long respectively; 1.8-2.1m wide and 0.2-1m deep.
The pre-development testing revealed topsoil above modern fill, peat, natural subsoils and a burnt spread. At least four different phases of drainage were uncovered throughout the site. All were relatively modern with the most recent dating to 2019. The topsoil contained modern artefacts.
The burnt spread was found near the east end of the site, at 0.25-0.3m below the surface. It extended 0.5-1.3m out of the west side of the trench and measured 1.7m north-south, while a smaller area extended 0.6m out of the east side of the trench and measured 0.8m north-south. It consisted of a spread of blackened soil and heat-shattered rocks which contained charcoal. As it was difficult to determine the extent of the spread, which appeared to extend beyond the east and west sides of the test trench, it was recommended that, prior to the commencement of the development, the burnt spread be fully exposed and excavated by a suitably qualified archaeologist.

4 Lecka Grove, Castlebar Road, Ballinrobe, County Mayo