2026:099 - Knockanarragh Wind Farm, Westmeath

Test excavations were carried at Knockanarragh Wind Farm in advanced of proposed development. A total of 59 trenches were excavated, each measuring 1.8m in width. In total, 2810m of linear trenches were excavated to the natural to a depth ranging from 0.2–0.6m. The natural subsoil varies between a light greyish-orange boulder clay and a greyish-orange clayey gravel in the fields to the north of the site. In the fields in the middle of the proposed development, the natural subsoil changed to variations of a dark grey gravel, grey silty clay, dark grey stony gravel peat, orange-brown grey and rusty orange gravel. Further changes of the natural subsoil were noted in the fields towards the south of the proposed windfarm. Variations of a greyish-brown silty gravel and clay, greyish-orange boulder clay, greyish-orange boulder clay or a creamy brown natural boulder clay were noted. One feature, C0301, a possible burnt spread measuring 1.5m wide x 1.5m long, was noted at the southern end of Trench 03.  No other archaeological features, structures or deposits were exposed or observed within the remaining trenches.

As there will be an impact on the possible burnt stone spread from a proposed internal access track, it is recommended that this feature be preserved by record through archaeological excavation.