1996:048 - SHERKIN ISLAND FRIARY, Farrancoush, Cork

Excavation of the north range of Sherkin Island Friary was undertaken by Glasgow University Archaeological Research Division (GUARD), in July 1996, as part of a programme of architectural conservation by the Office of Public Works.

The excavation recorded evidence from several stratigraphic phases. The friary was erected on natural subsoils consisting of sandy glacial tills with extensive areas of concreted iron pan (Phase I). The tills had been scarped or quarried to create a level site for the construction of the friary (Phase 2) and primary features included the walls of the north range, redeposited subfloor soil layers, and a major lintelled stone drain which traversed the building from west to east. In the post-Reformation period, numerous small post-pits and mid-den debris (Phase 3) appear to represent transient occupation of the friary, but a more formal reorganisation of the site (Phase 4) was represented by a newly laid floor of redeposited gravel subsoil in the north range. The final abandonment of the building was represented by accumulated topsoils and rubble (Phase 5); these were cut by a rubble-filled drain which probably dates to a previous episode of conservation work early in the present century.

Artefacts from the excavation included numerous sherds of post-medieval or early modern pottery, clay pipe fragments, masonry fragments and assorted midden materials (animal bone, cereal grains, fish bone and mollusc shells). No human skeletal remains were found within the north range.

Preliminary post-excavation analysis of bulk soil samples was carried out by John Tierney for Eachtra Ltd.

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