County: Sligo Site name: Cregg
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SL008-128---- Licence number: 23E0444
Author: Tamlyn McHugh
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 566503m, N 839619m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.304226, -8.514668
The work comprised the development of a nature trail for the students at Saint Cecilia’s National School in the vicinity of SL008-128---- Ringfort -Rath. The total area of the trail measures 330m, surface area of the path c. 660m2 and surface area of the rest and play area c. 257m2. The surface will comprise a wheelchair-suitable surface of sand-dressed hockey surface.
A program of licenced archaeological monitoring of all groundworks that involved subsurface excavation including topsoil stripping works, was undertaken on 13-14 July. A buffer zone was maintained on all sides of the ringfort with a temporary perimeter erected to prevent access of machinery and materials within a 5m constraints area around the extant remains of the monument.
Topsoil stripping was completed with the use of a mechanical excavator equipped with a graded bucket under strict archaeological supervision. The sod cover and overlying vegetation was first removed, following this the area was stripped of a small amount of topsoil (maximum depth of 0.15m). The topsoil was pushed out to the sides of the trail. The site is in a level field which is undulating to the west and central to the is RMP SL008-128----Ringfort Rath. No stripping took place within the undulating areas of the trail and instead the material removed was brought here to create a level trail, one suitable for wheelchair access. The trail measured approximately 1m wide and the area encompassed a 330m circuit around the monument, with three sub-circular play areas along the trail. Geotextile material was laid over the exposed soil and gravel was then layered over the geotextile.
Cooldrumman Upper, Carney, Co. Sligo
