County: Clare Site name: BUNRATTY WEST
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 61:11 Licence number: 99E0664
Author: Ken Hanley
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 544307m, N 660973m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.697033, -8.823933
The site of a proposed conversion (into a guesthouse) and extension of a disused retail outlet at Bunratty West, Co. Clare, was tested in December 1999 as part of an archaeological impact statement. The development also required the extension of the existing carpark to the west. This 0.8-acre site impinged on the area of archaeological potential associated with the medieval borough of Bunratty. The site is c. 350m to the north-west of Bunratty Castle and immediately to the north of the bank and ditch, interpreted in recent trial excavations as 17th-century defensive earthworks (Bradley et al. 1991).
Nine test-trenches were opened within the main area of development. Trenches I–III were excavated under the proposed eastern extension to the existing building. These revealed a substantial (1.1m) amount of landfill overlying the natural subsoil.
Trenches IV–VII were opened under the proposed western extension. These also revealed c. 0.9–1m of modern landfill under the carpark surface. Below this was a flattened sod/topsoil horizon, which rested on undisturbed, light grey clay marl. A deeper examination in Trench V revealed a further 0.9m of soft, spongy peat below the grey marl.
Trenches VIII and IX were excavated to the west of the site, where it was proposed to extend the existing carpark. Stratigraphic evidence from Trench VIII suggested that the upper 0.55m in this general area had been imported during or after the construction of the carpark. Overall, no finds or features of archaeological significance were noted.
44 Eaton Heights, Cobh, Co. Cork
