County: Mayo Site name: Carn (E.D. Neale)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: None Licence number: 21E0163
Author: Richard Crumlish
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 516328m, N 760450m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.587236, -9.263751
Pre-development testing of a site in Carn townland, near the vilage of The Neale in County Mayo, took place on 24 March 2021. The proposed development consists of a new dwelling, garage and sewerage treatment system. The testing was carried out in response to a Request for Further Information by the local authority and was necessary due to the location of a recorded monument (MA117-042) in the field immediately north of the proposed development site.
The site is located in a field of pasture, which was until recently the location of a conifer plantation. There are extensive views in all directions, particularly to the west across Lough Mask to the Partry Mountains and Maumtrasna beyond. The northern site boundary is located 25m from the bank of an enclosure (MA117-042002) associated with 'Eochy's Cairn' (MA117-042001), a National Monument (No. 246). The oval-shaped cairn measures 43m east-west and 6m high and is located within enclosure MA117-042002, which measures 142m north-south.
The testing consisted of the excavation, by machine, of five trenches located to best cover the area of the proposed development, especially that closest to MA117-042. The trenches measured 41m, 25.4m, 54.9m, 26m and 35.1m long respectively; 1.5-1.8m wide and 0.2-0.7m deep.
The pre-development testing revealed natural undisturbed stratigraphy in the form of topsoil above natural subsoils. There was clear evidence of the previous use of the site as a conifer plantation with numerous tree roots visible in the trenches.
There were no finds. Nothing of archaeological significance was in evidence.
4 Lecka Grove, Castlebar Road, Ballinrobe, County Mayo
