Archaeological monitoring of geotechnical site investigations in the townlands of Behybaun, Creggaun, Commons, Knocklehaugh and Gorteen in County Mayo were undertaken over a period of 8 days from 7 October 2024. The works were carried out along a 2.27km route of agricultural land, which includes marginal land and peat, on the outskirts of Ballina town.
A total of twenty eight test pits were monitored along the route. The general stratigraphy indicated sod and peaty topsoil over silty clay. A disturbed layer below topsoil was encountered in TP003 and TP015, however the remainder of the pits recorded natural layers below the topsoil. Peat was encountered in a number of pits with a maximum depth of 0.9-1m in TP012 and TP019.
Nothing of archaeological significance was encountered in any of the trenches excavated with natural ground below topsoil in the majority of pits excavated.
Old Church Street, Athenry, County Galway
