2024:519 - Moyglass, Roscommon

The test excavation of a site in advance of its development in Moyglass townland, located approximately 4km north north-east of Strokestown in County Roscommon, was carried out on 26 August 2024. The project consisted of the demolition of a side annex to a dwelling house and the construction of new side, rear and porch extensions. The testing was necessary due to the proximity of the proposed development to two ringforts (RO023-089 and RO023-090) and was carried out as part of the planning process.

The proposed development site consisted of two small fields and a deserted two-storey dwelling with single-storey extensions on its northern and southern sides. No features of archaeological significance were visible within the proposed development site. There was no visible surface trace of the two ringforts, which were located in a large field of pasture to the east of the proposed development site.

The testing consisted of the excavation of six trenches which measured 24.5m, 16.5m, 24.6m, 24.5m, 15.5m and 14m long respectively; 1.9-2.1m wide and 0.3-1.0m deep. The pre-development testing revealed quarried stone and topsoil, above natural subsoils. The quarried stone was the result of recent  groundworks. Five modern pottery sherds, one fragment of a roof slate and some plastic were recovered from the spoil from three of the trenches.

Nothing of archaeological significance was in evidence.