Excavation - miscellaneous

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, located to E of Kilmoremoy church (MA030-05101-) and graveyard (MA030-051002-).
Archaeological testing (07E0221) was carried out in 2007 in advance of a proposed housing development on a green-field site, which borders the N and E sides of Kilmoremoy graveyard (Wallace 2010, 316-7, no. 1215). The programme of testing was guided by the results of a geophysical survey carried out earlier that year (Barton 2007).
No archaeological features were exposed in test trenches (no. 9-17) on the high ground at the N end of the field. Seven trenches (no. 1-7) opened immediately to E of the graveyard produced significant evidence of archaeological activity, including curvilinear and linear ditches, spreads incorporating charcoal or animal bones, pits containing charcoal and iron slag, and a deposit of cockle shells. Four semi-circular ditches (max. dim. 5-8m), which extend beyond the limits of the test trenches, were also uncovered.
The exposed features were not excavated, and many features were only partly exposed within the limits of the test trenches. The date and function of the features, therefore, remains uncertain. The four semi-circular ditched features may be the remains of houses or prehistoric ring-ditches. The evidence of burning and iron-working may relate to settlement and industrial activity contemporary with the medieval ecclesiastical settlement at Kilmoremoy. (Wallace 2010, 316-7, no. 1215).

Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 4 December 2012

References

Wallace, A. 2010 Kilmoremoy, Killala Road, Ballina. Prehistoric ring-ditches and pits, medieval field system, occupation and industrial evidence. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 2007: Summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland. Bray. 316-7 (1215). Bray, Wordwell Ltd.
Also available at: http://www.excavations.ie

Barton, K. 2007 Geophysical Survey Consent 07R. Unpublished report carried out on behalf of Mayo County Council.