2020:788 - COGAULA, Mayo

The author was commissioned by Wills BAM JV to undertake a programme of archaeological testing of the site of a proposed external borrow area (EBA07) at Cogaula Townland, Co. Mayo.

Testing was carried out between on 4-5 November 2020. 16 test trenches were excavated. The trenches were largely adhered to except for TT14; this trench ran alongside a swollen drainage ditch and there was a concern that excavations would destabilise the drain and cause the field to flood. Additional trenches were excavated in Field 2 on a low knoll with archaeological potential.

In general, the stratigraphy comprised a thin surface of grass or moss and rushes overlying a thick deposit of dark brown peat occasionally containing tree roots. The depth of the peat varied with surface undulations from 400mm to 1m. West of the centre of field 1, along TT-2 was an area of firmer ground with topsoil covering light-brown gravelly sandy. This trench had two agricultural furrows running north-south. Along the roadside in TT-6 was an east-north-east/west-south-west ridge of outcropping rock.

In Field 2, a small hummock was investigated. The profile in this area was of rushes and mossy grass over 120mm of compact clay on white grey sandy gravel with frequent small stones.

Other than modern farming debris, no finds were noted throughout the course of the test excavations.