County: Galway Site name: Ballylee, Annaghdown
Sites and Monuments Record No.: GA069-001001-- Licence number: 23E0797
Author: Declan Moore
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 528420m, N 738048m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.387741, -9.076049
A programme of archaeological testing was carried out of a proposed development that will consist of a single dwelling house, garage/shed and private wastewater treatment system with all associated works and ancillary services at Annaghdown, Co. Galway.
The site is in a greenfield near Annaghdown pier, Eanach Dhúin and is within the zone of archaeological potential for the Annaghdown Early Medieval Ecclesiastical Site (GA069-001--). This complex comprises 14 individual entries including 3 Religious Houses, 2 churches, 3 graveyards, a round towed, ecclesiastical enclosure and grave slabs.
Testing was carried out in bright but showery conditions on 18 September 2023. Five test trenches were excavated by a backhoe excavator fitted with a 1.9m-wide toothless ditching bucket that removed topsoil and sod to natural subsoil and the excavated ground was assessed for the presence of archaeological features.
All 5 trenches produced consistent results. The stratigraphy exposed was a 150-300mm deep layer of a mid-brown sandy topsoil and sod overlying an undisturbed layer comprising a reddish-brown sandy silty natural subsoil. Patches of a marl-like natural sandy material were observed throughout the site. Nothing of archaeological significance was noted during the testing.
3 Gort na Rí, Athenry, Co. Galway
