2020:803 - BALLYNABOLL SOUTH, Mayo

Due to the size of the development (1.256 hectares) and the potential to discover archaeological remains, it was recommended that a programme of pre-development archaeological testing be undertaken within the proposed development site at Ballynaboll South, Castlebar, Co Mayo. Sixteen test trenches were excavated throughout the site. The site was undulating with higher dry ground to the west falling off to low boggy ground to the east. After testing it was clear that the area to the west had been backfilled with large stones and a grey, rough brown clay which was used to raise the level of the ground. Plastics and other dumped material were found throughout the fill. The land falls towards the centre of the site where there is deep bog; test pits were excavated in Trenches 7 and 8 to a depth of 2m plus and no bottom was found. Recent test drilling on site has shown that the bog is 5m deep. The site is bounded by a drain running east to west along the northern extent. The eastern boundary consists of some mature tree growth while there is a low ditch with linear tree growth along the southern boundary. No artefacts or environmental evidence were revealed during the test trenching exercise.