2025:437 - Bellayarha North, Galway

The test excavation of a site in advance of its development at Bellayarha North townland, Bullaun, Co. Galway, was carried out on 20 May 2025. The proposed development consisted of the construction of a house, wastewater treatment plant and all associated site works. The testing was undertaken as part of the planning process and was necessary as the proposed development site was partly located within the constraint for an enclosure (RMP No. GA097-012).

The proposed development site was located 1km east of Bullaun village in a field of overgrown pasture. There was no visible surface trace of the enclosure. The testing of a proposed development site to the south-east by Fiona Rooney, under Licence No. 23E0798, revealed a section of the fosse of the enclosure and cremated human bone fragments. Further testing of the same site was carried out by the writer in September 2024, under Excavation Licence no. 24E0952. The testing was based on a revised site layout which attempted to avoid the archaeology uncovered during the previous testing. The four test trenches revealed modern fill and nothing of archaeological significance. Subsequent monitoring of the groundworks in November 2024 (under Excavation Licence No. 24E0952) revealed nothing of archaeological significance.

This testing consisted of the excavation of four trenches, located to best cover the area of the proposed development site. The test trenches measured 54.9m, 15.9m, 15.2m and 21.8m long respectively; 1.9-2.1m wide and 0.2-0.7m deep. The testing revealed natural undisturbed stratigraphy, i.e. topsoil above natural subsoils. Plastic and modern metal wire were the only finds recovered. Nothing of archaeological significance was in evidence.