2020:787 - DRUMALEHEEN, Mayo

The author was commissioned by Wills-BAM Joint Venture to undertake a programme of archaeological testing of the site of a proposed topsoil storage area (TSA02) at Drumaleheen, Co. Mayo.

TSA02 is located roughly 1km to the southeast of Castlebar in greenfield bordered to the west by a stream and fence lines elsewhere. There are no recorded archaeological monuments within the site. Archaeological testing carried out in advance of the N5 project in 2017 exposed a number of features roughly 100m to the northeast of the site including the truncated remains of a barrow ditch dating to the Early–Middle Bronze Age, a possible spread, a stake-hole and ten possible post-holes. These features were scattered or isolated in nature and did not appear to form or be associated with any identifiable structure or function. Two post-medieval ditches were also exposed. An important assemblage of Early Neolithic and Late Middle Bronze Age domestic vessels was recovered from the barrow site.

Testing was carried out on 18 June 2020. Ten test trenches were excavated at the site in generally bright and sunny conditions.

In general, the stratigraphy comprised a mid-brown sandy silty topsoil and sod ranging in depth from 200-250mm overlying a natural subsoil which ranged from a yellowish moderately compact clay subsoil with frequent inclusions of medium-sized stones to the east and south to a fine grey gravel with frequent angular stones at the southeast of the site running west to the low drumlin-like feature at the centre. Towards the west the stratigraphy comprised gradually sloping peat which reached a depth of up to 3m in parts. Some modern drainage features were observed in a northeast to southwest alignment at the western end of the site.

Nothing of archaeological significance was noted.