1996:019 - CARLOW, Carlow

Between September and December 1996, ongoing dredging, part of the River Barrow Navigation Scheme, turned up archaeological material in the form of worked timbers in the areas immediately north and south of the Graigue-Cullen Bridge in Carlow town, Areas 1 and 2 respectively.

The scheme in Area 1 involved firstly lengthening the existing mid-river sand bar, secondly over-deepening the river bed between the sand bar and the west bank of the river to form a jetty, and thirdly dredging an access channel to and from the newly formed jetty area. The work in Area 2 consisted of dredging the river channel downstream from the lock house.

As a result of the discoveries, Archaeological Development Services Ltd were asked to undertake an archaeological assessment of the areas dredged up to that point (and while this was being carried out the dredging was halted), and afterwards to maintain a watching brief of the ongoing work.

Area 1 assessment
The initial assessment of Area 1 took place in October 1996. The first phase involved visual inspection of the river bed, inspection of spoil already removed, probing of deposits and examination of the existing quayside. Some worked timbers in the form of stake points and some cut timber pieces were revealed, but nothing on the scale of the timbers dredged up from elsewhere on the scheme.

The second phase consisted of trial excavations through the northern, inner, face of the sand bar. Nothing of archaeological interest was uncovered here.

The final phase of the assessment was the examination of material dredged up from Area 1, using metal-detectors on the spread of dredged soils. Nothing of significance was uncovered. However, several worked timbers were discovered within the spoil.

As a result of these findings, a sub-aqua survey of the area of the dredging platform and the sand bar was undertaken by Down Diving Services, with members of ADS in attendance. Owing to lack of visibility underwater, this yielded little new information. A further underwater examination produced several new pieces of worked timber, but none were discovered in situ.

As a final check, nearly the whole of the dredging platform, measuring 13m east-west x 18m north-south, was excavated by machine under strict archaeological supervision. Although no timbers were found in situ, several worked pieces were located within the dredged material from which the platform was constructed. A well-preserved flintlock pistol, of probable eighteenth-century date, was also recovered from the platform build-up.

Area 2 assessment
A 300m stretch of the Barrow down from the lock house, on the western side of the river, had already been dredged prior to the assessment commencing in October 1996. Several pieces of worked timber were noted in the dredge spoil. As further work was obviously needed in this area, another underwater survey was carried out by DDS/ADS. Nothing of archaeological interest was recovered but, as before, visibility was almost zero owing to dense vegetation cover and riverine silts.

Since the assessments were completed there has been a continued (ADS) archaeological presence on site. Dredging work is being monitored and dredge spoil is being inspected. Although none of the timbers recovered have yet been dated, it is noteworthy that most were recovered from around the area of what is now a small slipway and dry dock, and a place where local history records that river boats were hauled up for repairs and re-tarring. It may be that these boat-based industries had their origins in the more distant past.

Both dredging and monitoring are due to continue in 1997.

Power House, Pigeon House Harbour, Dublin 4