County: Donegal Site name: Gaddyduff
Sites and Monuments Record No.: DG010-014 Licence number: 21E0300
Author: Richard Crumlish
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 637371m, N 946622m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 55.265305, -7.412030
The test excavation of a site in advance of development at Gaddyduff townland, on the northern outskirts of Clonmany village, County Donegal, was carried out on 22 May 2021. The project consisted of the construction of a dwelling house and garage with connection to public services. The testing was necessary due its location, within the constraint for ringfort DG010-014. The project was in the pre-planning phase with a report on the pre-development testing to accompany a planning application for the proposed development.
The site extended across two fields of pasture, which sloped down from north-west to south-east, enclosed by dry stone walls lined with deciduous trees. What was visible of the ringfort, which was located 10m from the site boundary, was a sub-circular, slightly raised, platform which sloped down to the west and south.
The testing consisted of the excavation of four trenches, located to best cover the area of the proposed development, especially that closest to the ringfort. The trenches measured 19.8m, 6m, 20.8m and 20.4m long respectively; 1.55-1.8m wide and 0.3-0.8m deep. Testing revealed evidence of the filling up of the lower section of the smaller field at its south eastern end and a section of dry stone wall, the remains of a field boundary, within the same field. Elsewhere, natural stratigraphy was found, in the form of topsoil above natural subsoils and bedrock.
There was no evidence of the adjacent ringfort extending into the development site. None of the small number of modern artefacts found in the topsoil were retained. Nothing of archaeological significance was in evidence.
4 Lecka Grove, Castlebar Road, Ballinrobe, County Mayo
