2022:759 - CASTLETOWNBERE TRUNK MAIN WATER SCHEME (Bunskellig, Ardgroom Outward, Barrees, Faunkill and The Woods, Bofickil and Inches), Cork

Archaeological monitoring was proposed for parts of a watermains rehabilitation scheme adjacent to monuments CO102-16001 and CO102-16002 (located 23m and 47m to the west of the scheme respectively). Unfortunately, due to an oversight on the part of the main contractor, the archaeologists were not informed when works were taking place and the entire scheme was constructed without archaeological monitoring.

According to correspondence from the contractor, the pipes were laid in open-cut trenches, typically 0.6m wide and 1.2m deep, excavated by a tracked mechanical excavator with a toothless grading bucket. Pipes at the north-eastern end of the scheme, connecting the reservoir with the road, were laid by slip lining, i.e. the new pipes were inserted inside the existing pipes – meaning very little ground excavation was required.

Photographs of some of the works were provided by the contractor, including the slip lining, where the new pipe can be seen being inserted into an existing pipe. It is clear from the photographs that the route of the pipe was previously disturbed when the original watermain was laid. The images of the areas of open-cut trenches in the road reveal that, at least in the locations for which photographs are available, the modern road surface directly overlies natural geological deposits of stony orange glacial till or pinkish mudstone/sandstone. The contractor has stated that for pipe laying on much of the R571 the trench revealed that the road surface sits directly above bedrock.

Though impossible to state the impact of the works conclusively due to the lack of concurrent archaeological monitoring, it appears the areas of work for which photographs were provided by the contractor did not impact any sub-surface archaeological remains.