County: Westmeath Site name: Ballybeg
Sites and Monuments Record No.: None Licence number: 22E0410
Author: Dominic Delany
Site type: Burnt spread
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 622066m, N 739888m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.408665, -7.668128
Archaeological test excavation was carried out on a proposed development site at Ballybeg, Co. Westmeath on 22 June 2022. The proposed development comprises a dwelling house, garage, wastewater treatment system and associated site works. Early Ordnance Survey maps indicate that the site is located at the north-west edge of a former pocket of wetland, now reclaimed and used for rough grazing.
A mechanical excavator fitted with a wide grading bucket was retained to open six test trenches on the footprint of the development. A spread of burnt material (dims. 14.5m north-east/south-west x min. 17m) was uncovered on the route of the driveway, which is situated on low-lying ground in the east of the site. Small sondage cuttings revealed 0.005-0.075m of burnt material over 0.225-0.25m of peat over grey sandy clay natural. The peat is considered to be a paleosol with the potential to retain and/or seal archaeological material associated with the burnt spread. It is proposed to preserve the archaeology in situ.
Dominic Delany & Associates, Creganna, Oranmore, Co. Galway
