2020:782 - CLAGGARNAGH WEST, Mayo
County: Mayo
Site name: CLAGGARNAGH WEST
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A
Licence number: E005163; Ministerial Direction No.: A069
Author: Declan Moore
Author/Organisation Address: 3 Gort na Rí, Athenry, Co. Galway
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 508470m, N 786651m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.821307, -9.390136
The author was commissioned by Wills-BAM Joint Venture to undertake a programme of archaeological testing of the site of a proposed temporary topsoil storage area (TSA07) at Claggarnagh West townland, Co. Mayo.
The TSA is in a gently undulating field of improved pasture to the east of a drumlin and north of the existing N5. There are no recorded monuments or extant structures within the boundaries of the site. Field inspection identified a potential archaeological site immediately to the northeast of the subject site. This may represent a small and partially ploughed-out rath or a large burnt mound. Several burnt mounds were found in the surrounding area during testing for the N5 road scheme including an archaeological site 30m to the south of the subject site (Claggarnagh West 6), which is one of five burnt mounds (some with troughs), excavated in the general area.
The programme of testing was carried out on 12 June 2020. Eleven test trenches were excavated at the site in generally bright and sunny conditions.
The stratigraphy was consistent throughout and comprised a homogenous mid-brown sandy silty topsoil and sod ranging in depth from 200–400mm overlying a natural yellowish to orange compact clay subsoil speckled with reddish clay and with frequent inclusions of medium-sized stones. This deposit was 100mm in thickness and overlay a grey gravelly sandy silty natural deposit. Nothing of archaeological significance was noted during testing.