2000:0126 - CORK: 14–21 Hanover Street, Cork

A site assessment consisting of three test-trenches was carried out on 4 March 2000. Trenches 1 and 2 followed the footprint of the proposed building on two of its foundation lines. Both trenches were opened to a depth of 2.5m and were found to contain 19th- and 20th-century loose rubble fill to the bottom, where clay and river-rolled gravel were noted. No archaeological features, layers or artefacts were noted in these trenches.

Trench 3 was opened along the suspected line of the medieval city wall. The wall was identified at a depth of 0.3m below the concrete surface. It was constructed of large stones and very strongly bonded with a lime mortar mix. Only a short length (1.5m) of the wall was exposed in the trench, but its width (c. 2.25m) could be ascertained. The outer face of the wall was exposed to a depth of 0.3m. The inner face was not exposed, as it occurred at the end of the trench, which could not be extended any further. A mortared stone wall appeared to be built directly against its inner face. No further investigation of the wall took place, as the sole purpose of the trench was to identify and establish the line of the city wall. Following the investigation, the exposed wall was covered with a membrane of terram and river-rolled gravel to protect it. The general area is to be tarmacadamed and used as a parking area.

1 Charlemont Heights, Coach Hill, Rochestown, Co. Cork