2025:615 - Isertkelly North, Galway

A programme of testing was undertaken to determine the archaeological nature of Anomalies detected by a Geophysical Survey undertaken by ACSU (Licence No: 24R0573) within the extent of a proposed quarry extension at Isertkelly North, Co. Galway.

A total of twenty-nine trenches, of varying lengths and orientations, were excavated. All trenches were excavated by machine fitted with a 1.5m-wide toothless bucket, following which the sides and bases of the trenches were visually examined; the positions of the detected geophysical anomalies were further cleaned by hand using a hoe and the resultant spoil was ‘raked-through‘ to increase the chances of artefact recovery. In addition, in some trenches the subsoil was also excavated to a shallow depth in order to determine, with certainty, that no subsurface features of archaeological interest existed within the areas of testing.

In summary, the testing programme indicated the topsoil was relatively shallow across the testing area (generally 100–150mm in thickness) and that the subsoil contained concentrations of large stones and boulders. No subsurface features of archaeological interest were uncovered and no artefacts of archaeological/historical interest were recovered.