1998:070 - CORK: 21 Main Street North, Cork

Two test-trenches, 1m x 1m, were excavated in advance of a redevelopment to ascertain whether archaeological deposits were present. The stratigraphy in the west of the site, next to the street, consisted of 0.38m of modern overburden that overlay a 0.26m-deep, light brown, sandy layer containing inclusions of slates, ash, brick and mortar. Beneath this was a black layer of decayed organic material, 0.3m deep, with frequent inclusions of animal bone and oyster shells. The only artefact recovered from this layer was a clay pipe stem. A brown, silty clay deposit was found to a depth of 0.16m beneath the black, humic layer. This was medieval in date, as indicated by the ceramic finds, and overlay an extremely compact oxidised surface, 1.1m below modern ground surface. The excavation halted at this depth.

The stratigraphy at the east end of the property consisted of 0.7m of modern overburden that overlay a stony layer in a grey, silty clay matrix. This contained moderate amounts of butchered animal bones and oyster shells and was 0.3m deep. What appeared to be a paved surface was uncovered beneath the stony layer, at a depth of 1m below modern ground level. This consisted of two flat limestone slabs surrounded by a firmly packed surface of smaller, purple slates and sandstones. This surface continued under the baulks in all directions and was left in situ. A single sherd of medieval pottery was uncovered in the interface between the overlying stony layer and the paved surface.