Excavation - miscellaneous

The National Monuments Service's description

Monitoring and excavation at the IDA Ireland Athenry Strategic Site Infrastructure Works took place between May and August 2018 under licence no.18E0003. A small charcoal spread (Wth .65m) was identified (ITM 549338 727469) and half-sectioned but not sampled. There were no archaeological artefacts identified within. The line of a road/trackway (GA084-118----) has largely been covered over by a modern tarmacadam roadway. Below the tarmacadam surface was a 600-700mm thick, modern road base of cobbled sized aggregate and gravel. On the north side of the lane was a water duct laid down in the 1980s. Along the southern edge was the remains of a wall foundation (L 10m approx.). The foundation was a double skinned foundation, one course deep and made of dry stone random rubble with packing stones. It was best preserved at its centre and petered out at either terminal. An investigation of the immediate area exposed 19th and early 20th century white table ware, shards of brown glass, fragments of red and yellow brick and metal debris. The wall was preserved in situ.

GA084-155----_01 Charcoal spread
GA084-155----_02 Plan of wall foundation

Compiled by: Margaret Keane

Updated on: 29 March 2021

References

Quinn, B. 2018 Report on Archaeological Monitoring/Excavation at the IDA Ireland Athenry Strategic Site Infrastructure Works, Athenry, Co. Galway, 18E0003, Unpublished excavation report. Moore Group.