2021:458 - Kilbegly, Roscommon

A second phase of archaeological testing was carried out on the site of a proposed cemetery extension at Kilbegley, Co. Roscommon on 16 June 2021. The site is located within the area of archaeological constraint for RO054-027, an ecclesiastical site comprising a church (-001), graveyard (-002) and ecclesiastical enclosure (-003). Geophysical survey in 2015 identified the line of an ecclesiastical enclosure extending north-east/south-west adjacent to the west boundary wall of the existing graveyard (LGS, 2015). As a result of this discovery the lands immediately bordering the graveyard boundary wall were excluded from development and efforts were focused on a plot in the west extent of the field surrounding the graveyard. This site was subject to geophysical survey (Earthsound, 2016) and archaeological testing (Excavations 2018:879). No archaeology was found but the site is no longer available and a plot of land closer to the graveyard and immediately west of the development exclusion zone is now under consideration for the proposed cemetery extension. Three test trenches (L 80m; Wth 1.8m), positioned at 4m intervals, were opened north-east/south-west across the site. The stratigraphy was similar to that recorded on the adjoining site in 2018 (Excavations 2018:879) with 0.2-0.3m of topsoil overlying orange/brown silty sand subsoil and grey sand, gravel and stone. No archaeology was found.

Dominic Delany & Associates, Creganna, Oranmore, Co. Galway