County: Donegal Site name: Rossnowlagh Lower
Sites and Monuments Record No.: None Licence number: 21E0619
Author: Richard Crumlish
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 586551m, N 868200m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.561954, -8.207939
The test excavation of a site in advance of its development at Rossnowlagh Lower townland, in County Donegal, was carried out between 20 and 22 September 2021. The project concerned the construction of fifteen detached houses. The testing, which was required by the local authority as part of the planning process, was necessary due to the size of the site and the scale of the proposed development.
The proposed development site was located less than 300m from the coast in undulating grassland which contained sand dunes. There were no recorded monuments within or in the immediate vicinity of the site.
Testing consisted of the excavation of five trenches which were located to best cover the area of the proposed development. The trenches measured 195.5m, 140.5m, 28.5m, 180.5m and 81.5m long respectively; 1.85-2.1m wide and 0.25-1.1m deep.
Testing revealed topsoil above two layers of sea sand. Considering the proximity of the site to the coast, this was to be expected. The topsoil contained 20th- and 21st-century artefacts of plastic, glass and aluminium. None of the modern artefacts were retained. Nothing of archaeological significance was in evidence.
4 Lecka Grove, Castlebar Road, Ballinrobe, County Mayo
