2022:591 - N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge Road Project, Co. Roscommon (TWA), Roscommon

Refer to the 2022:477 for previous works.

Archaeological test excavations were carried out on behalf of Roscommon County Council and completed in October 2022. The archaeological testing was undertaken within ten Temporary Work Areas (TWA) proposed by Roscommon County Council located outside the Lands Made Available for the N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge Road Project. All works were carried out in accordance with Ministerial Directions A077.

These works included TWA located in the townlands of Portaghard (TWA-01), Clogher More (TWA-05), Creeve (TWA-06), Cregga (TWA-08), Cloonradoon (TWA-10), Tullen (TWA-12, TWA-13), Tullycartron (TWA-14), Vesnoy (TWA-15) and Gortnacrannagh (TWA-16). Archaeological remains were discovered at five locations, TWA-05 (large prehistoric site), TWA-08 (pits, prehistoric pottery), TWA-10 (kiln), TWA-13 (burnt mound, burnt spread) and TWA-16 (burnt spread, pits, kilns).

Portaghard (TWA-01)
A total of 20 test trenches totalling 448 linear metres and one trench extension measuring 5.5m x 3.5m were excavated within TWA-01. No trace of archaeological remains was encountered. The topsoil ranged from 0.3m to 0.7m deep and the underlying natural subsoil consisted of a firmly compacted light-yellowish brown silty clay to soft light-grey silty clay. (570555, 792471 ITM)

Clogher More (TWA-05)
A total of 24 test trenches and three trench extensions were excavated totalling 1202.5 linear metres within TWA-05. Archaeological remains were identified within seven of the trenches in the northern section of TWA-05 in the form of pits, linear features and post-holes, likely representing Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age activity. Evidence of lithic production and completed lithics were retrieved from the trenches. The topsoil ranged from 0.19m to 0.36m deep. The underlying natural subsoil consisted of firm to moderately compact light-grey to yellowish brown mottled clay. (582137, 787482 ITM)

Creeve (TWA-06)
A total of 51 test trenches totalling 1185 linear metres were excavated within TWA-06. No trace of archaeological remains was encountered. The topsoil ranged from 0.3m to 0.6m deep and the underlying natural subsoil consisted of a firmly compacted light-yellowish brown to soft light-grey silty clay. (583466, 787197 ITM)

Cregga (TWA-08)
A total of 56 test trenches totalling 1,268 linear metres and two trench extensions were excavated within TWA-08. Archaeological remains were identified within two of the trenches in the north-west facing slope comprising a small oval pit containing prehistoric pottery and a second possible pit with modern activity on top. The prehistoric pottery retrieved from the pit has been identified as a small bowl of Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age date. There were three fragments of the rim present that shows that it was a flat-topped rim with some decoration. A possible chert scraper was also recovered close to this location. The topsoil ranged from 0.2m to 0.5m deep and the underlying natural subsoil consisted of a firmly compacted light-yellowish brown silty clay and limestone bedrock containing frequent small sub-angular stones. (590376, 786006 ITM)

Cloonradoon (TWA-10)
A total of eighteen test trenches totalling 544 linear metres and two trench extensions were excavated within TWA-10. Archaeological remains were identified within one of the trenches in the northern section of TWA-10, in the form a kiln. The topsoil ranged from 0.15m to 0.45m deep and the underlying natural subsoil consisted of a firmly compacted light-yellowish brown silty clay with occasional protruding limestone bedrock. (595187, 780668 ITM)

Tullen (TWA-12)
A total of 22 test trenches totalling 1,178 linear metres were excavated within TWA-12. No trace of archaeological remains was encountered. The topsoil ranged from 0.3m to 0.4m deep and the underlying natural subsoil consisted of a firmly compacted mid-yellowish brown silty clay containing small and medium subangular stones with occasional protruding limestone bedrock. (592325, 783890 ITM)

Tullen (TWA-13)
A total of 31 test trenches totalling 902 linear metres and three trench extensions were excavated within TWA-13. Archaeological remains were identified within two of the trenches in the south-west corner of TWA-13 in the form a burnt mound and burnt spread. The topsoil ranged from 0.12m to 0.42m deep and the underlying natural subsoil consisted of a firmly compacted mid-yellowish brown silty clay containing small and medium subangular stones. (592613, 783709 ITM)

Tullycartron (TWA-14)
A total of six test trenches totalling 392 linear metres were excavated within TWA-14. No trace of archaeological remains was encountered. The topsoil ranged from 0.2m to 0.4m deep and the underlying natural subsoil consisted of a moderately compacted light- to mid-yellowish brown silty clay with occasional protruding limestone bedrock and boulders. (589219, 786280 ITM)

Vesnoy (TWA-15)
A total of fifteen test trenches totalling 395 linear metres were excavated within TWA-15. No trace of archaeological remains was encountered. The topsoil ranged from 0.25m to 0.46m deep and the underlying natural subsoil consisted of a moderately compacted light-greyish brown silty clay. (594383, 781617 ITM)

Gortnacrannagh (TWA-16)
A total of 57 test trenches totalling 1,272 linear metres and four trench extensions were excavated within TWA-16. Archaeological remains were identified within three of the trenches in the western and eastern sections of TWA-16 in the form of pits, a burnt spread and two kilns. The topsoil ranged from 0.24m to 1m deep and the underlying natural subsoil consisted of a firmly compacted light-yellowish brown silty clay to soft light-yellowish grey clay.(585159, 786394 ITM)

Archaeological Management Solutions, Fahy’s Road, Kilrush, Co. Clare, V15 C780