2021:056 - Drummin, Gortnagoyne and Peak, Roscommon

Archaeologiocal testing was undertaken at the site of a disused quarry in the townlands of Drummin, Peak and Gortnagoyne to establish if any sub-surface archaeological features survive in the area and in particular if the inscribed stone (RO015-052----) recorded from the area could be located.

A total of sixteen trenches were excavated throughout the site. Fifteen were linear trenches excavated by a mechanical excavator while one (Trench P) was manually excavated in the general area of the site of the inscribed stone as indicated from cartographic sources. No features and/or finds of archaeological significance were encountered in any of the trenches excavated. The inscribed stone was not located.
It is possible that the inscribed stone recorded from this site had previously been moved to the ringfort (RO015-151002-) located 550m to the west. Three significant stones are recorded from the ringfort, two of which are ogham stones (RO015-151001- & 004-) and the third a standing stone (RO015-151003-).
The Archaeological Survey of Ireland records that one of the ogham stones (RO015-151004-) was discovered in 1985 while cleaning scrub. It is a sandstone monolith (L 1.9m; Wth 0.55m; T 0.35m). The right-hand angle was visible in 1985 and the inscription ran unusually up this angle. It was read at the time as: RAVASA KOI MAQQI DO....U, but none of the left-hand angle could be read. The stone is now lying on the ground outside the rath at the south-west. Is it possible that this stone is the ‘inscribed stone' recorded from the quarry site?

While no artefacts of archaeological significance were encountered in the course of testing a fragment of a rotary quern stone was recovered from the spoil associated with previous quarrying activity at the site. The discovery of the quern stone suggests that previous archaeological activity on the site may have been disturbed by quarrying activity.

Old Church Street, Athenry, Co. Galway