County: Donegal Site name: Tops
Sites and Monuments Record No.: DG070-026001 Licence number: 24E0468
Author: Tamlyn McHugh
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 625660m, N 900310m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.849980, -7.600442
The proposed development is in Tops townland at the DAFM Potato Centre, known as Tops Farm. It is in a rural setting and the proposed development will be located in a green field site adjacent to the existing farmyard and buildings associated with Tops Farm. The area subject to test trenching is an east-sloping field in use as grazing. National Monument No. 463, Beltany Stone Circle (DG070-026001) and Enclosure (DG070-025), are located approximately 250m east of the proposed development area. The proposed development is not within the constraints area for these monuments and the field proposed for development is located at the base of a natural hillock on top of which is the recorded monument.
Due to the location of the proposed development within a greenfield site of 1 hectare in size and the proximity to the recorded monuments associated with Beltany Stone Circle, it was recommended that a full programmed of archaeological testing take place to investigate and identify any subsurface archaeological material that may be present. The results of the Geophysical Survey (Leigh 2024) indicated that there were anomalies with archaeological potential within the proposed development area.
A programme of test trenching was undertaken over two days and was designed to fully test the site and to also target any potential archaeological features identified in the Geophysical Survey. A total of 11 test trenches were excavated at regular intervals across the proposed development area. No material of an archaeological nature was noted during the programme of test trenching.
Cooldrumman Upper, Carney, Co. Sligo
