County: Galway Site name: Ballynacourty
Sites and Monuments Record No.: Vicinity of GA103-029---- Licence number: 22E0035
Author: Declan Moore
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 536808m, N 718799m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.215844, -8.946143
The author was commissioned to carry out a programme of archaeological testing at the site of a proposed single dwelling house at Ballynacourty, Maree, Co. Galway.
The topography of the site is undulating, falling to the east from a prominent ridge that runs north/south in a field to the rear. Ground to the south of the proposed development site is generally flat or gently undulating with fine views to Galway Bay which dominate the eastern horizon. GA103-029----, a Ringfort – rath is located in a field to rear of the subject site.
Archaeological testing at Ballynacourty was carried out in dry conditions on 9 February 2022 using a 14-tonne, wide tracked, backhoe excavator with a 2m wide toothless, ditching bucket. In total 5 test trenches were excavated across three fields in a regular grid.
All trenches were excavated to natural undisturbed subsoils. The general stratigraphy exposed was a dark brown silty topsoil over a mid-brown, gravelly natural subsoil. Bedrock was observed on higher ground directly beneath the topsoil and sod. Nothing of archaeological significance was noted.
3 Gort na Rí, Athenry, Co. Galway
