2024:561 - Bellayarha North, Galway
County: Galway
Site name: Bellayarha North
Sites and Monuments Record No.: None
Licence number: 24E0952
Author: Richard Crumlish
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: Modern (AD 1750-AD 2000)
ITM: E 563868m, N 721671m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.244181, -8.541340
The test excavation of a site in advance of its development, in Bellayarha North townland, Bullaun, Co. Galway, was carried out on 9 September 2024. Subsequent monitoring of the groundworks, which was recommended in the testing report, was carried out on 19 November 2024. The project consisted of the construction of a house, wastewater treatment system and all associated site works. The testing and monitoring were carried out as part of the planning process.
The development site was located in the south-eastern half of a field of pasture and within the constraint for an enclosure (RMP GA097-012), of which there is no visible trace. Following pre-development testing of the site by Fiona Rooney in October 2023 under Excavation Licence No. 23E0798, and the discovery of features associated with the enclosure, the proposed site layout was revised with a new entrance and driveway. The new layout required further testing.
The testing consisted of the excavation of four trenches, located to best cover the area of the proposed development site which had not been tested previously and the revised site layout (including the new entrance and driveway). The trenches measured 25.1m, 14.7m, 20.5m and 15.5m long respectively; 1.8-2.3m wide and 0.3-1.9m deep.
The testing revealed evidence of modern fill in two of the trenches and topsoil above natural subsoils in the other two. There was no evidence of the enclosure in any of the four trenches. Only modern 20th- and 21st-century artefacts were uncovered. Nothing of archaeological significance was in evidence.
The groundworks which were subsequently monitored were the removal of an earthen roadside boundary and the reduction in levels for the new dwelling, driveway, a soakpit and raised bed for the wastewater treatment system. Apart from the fill of two of the test trenches excavated in September 2024, the stratigraphy encountered during the monitoring of groundworks was natural and undisturbed, i.e. topsoil above natural subsoils. Only 20th-century artefacts were recovered. Nothing of archaeological significance was in evidence.