County: Mayo Site name: Killosheheen
Sites and Monuments Record No.: None Licence number: 24E0282
Author: Richard Crumlish
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: Modern (AD 1750-AD 2000)
ITM: E 519736m, N 763410m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.614363, -9.213052
The test excavation of a site in advance of its development at Killosheheen townland, on the outskirts of Ballinrobe, in County Mayo, was carried out over five days between 26 February and 1 March 2024. The project consists of the construction of a GAA pitch and a smaller astro pitch. The testing was necessary due to the proximity of the proposed development to a church (RMP MA118-029) and an associated graveyard (RMP MA118-029001). A report on the testing was to accompany a planning application for the proposed development.
The proposed development site was located adjacent to an existing GAA pitch and was in use as a training pitch. No features of archaeological significance were visible within the proposed development site, however, the heavily overgrown and poorly preserved remains of Killosheheen Church (MA118-029) were located 36m to the south. Human skeletal remains were uncovered c. 8m west of the church during monitoring of the Ballinrobe Sewerage Scheme by Gerry Walsh in 1994.
The testing consisted of the excavation of nine test trenches which measured 129.8m, 80m, 79.8m, 78m, 79.5m, 80m, 79.7m, 79.8m and 80.2m long respectively; 1.6-2.1m wide and 0.25-1.5m deep. The spoil from the trenches was carefully inspected for artefacts.
Testing revealed topsoil above natural subsoils, bedrock and three areas of fill. The first area of fill appeared to be the remains of a field boundary which had been demolished and buried during field clearance. The second area of fill appeared to be the result of the filling up of a low spot in the field with the original topsoil clearly visible, in a 0.2-0.3m thick band, below the fill. The third area of fill had all the appearance of burnt spread material, however, a modern pottery sherd found within it clearly dated it to the modern period.
A number of modern artefacts were recovered from the topsoil and the spoil. Nothing of archaeological significance was in evidence.
4 Lecka Grove, Castlebar Road, Ballinrobe, County Mayo
