2025:041 - Turlough Road, Knockthomas, Castlebar, Mayo

Archaeological test trenching was undertaken at the site of a proposed housing development in Knockthomas townland, Castlebar, Co. Mayo. The development site consists of an open field in pasture on the north-eastern periphery of Castlebar town, about 1.2km from the town centre.

Fourteen test trenches were excavated across the entire footprint of the site. Three south-east to north-west aligned linear features represented parts of a relic field boundary depicted on the First Edition OS 6” map of 1839 (surveyed in 1837) and thus were deemed to be of no archaeological significance. An area of burning was also thought to be the result of root burning activity and not of archaeological significance.

Beyond late 19^th- or early 20^th-century pottery, bottle glass and clay tobacco pipe, no archaeological artefacts were found. These relatively modern objects were not retained. The licensed use of a metal detector did not recover archaeological artefacts. In summary nothing of archaeological significance was identified.