2000:0151 - RIGSDALE, Cork

Pre-development testing was carried out at Rigsdale, Ballinhassig, Co. Cork, as part of a planning application for the construction of a single dwelling-house. The proposed development site is adjacent to a medieval moated site. In order to ensure that associated external archaeological features were not destroyed, the Cork County Planning Authority required that a full archaeological assessment be made of the proposed site.

The moated site consists of a rectangular enclosure covering an area 38m x 30m. Excavations by Sweetman (1981) revealed an enclosing bank 2m high and a ditch, which reached a maximum depth of 2m. An Edward I penny (1279–80) was found under the south bank and provided an accurate date for the construction of the monument. The remains of a rectangular hall-like structure with stone footings were uncovered in the interior of the fort to the south. Numerous structural post-holes and eight informal hearths were also excavated. A square stone structure outside the north-east corner of the site was interpreted as a refuse collection area or latrine. The site is now completely overgrown.

Six areas were chosen for trenching. Test-trench 1 was placed at the western side of the development, close to the moated site and the proposed entrance. It was 15m long and was excavated to a maximum depth of 1.1m. The topsoil consisted of a mid-brown, sandy silt and varied from 0.56m at the southern end of the trench to 0.78m at the northern end. The surface beneath the topsoil was made up of a compact, orange boulder clay. A narrow band of sediment became apparent following removal of the topsoil at the northern end of the trench. It was orientated east–west and extended across the entire width of the trench. A small section, excavated at the west-facing baulk, revealed a shallow linear feature filled with a grey, silty sand containing occasional charcoal and medium-sized stones. The cut was 0.36m wide and had a maximum depth of 0.13m. The sides sloped gently to a flat, uneven base. This linear feature cut into the orange boulder clay and lay beneath 0.62m of topsoil. It was clearly of some antiquity given its stratigraphic position in the trench, although the absence of any other archaeological features made interpretation difficult. It was too shallow to represent a foundation trench, and there were no stake-holes in the base to indicate a footing trench for a fence line. It had the appearance of an early cultivation furrow, and the most plausible interpretation is that it represents cultivation activity.

Test-trench 2 was located in the centre of the access route to the proposed house. It measured 20m x 2m and was excavated to a maximum depth of 0.75m. A wide ditch feature became apparent immediately following removal of the topsoil. It measured 3.8m wide, and the fill consisted of a loose, stony, clay silt with numerous charcoal flecks on the surface. No other archaeological features were noted in this trench. Two further trenches (5 and 6) were placed to the north and south of Test-trench 2 in order to determine if the ditch feature extended across the entire central area of the site. The ditch became apparent following removal of the topsoil in both trenches. No other archaeological features were present in these trenches.

Test-trench 3 was located in the parking area to the front of the proposed house site. It measured 15m x 2m and was excavated to a maximum depth of 0.7m. The topsoil varied from 0.45m to 0.5m in depth and overlay a bright orange boulder clay excavated to a depth of 0.2m. Trenching revealed that there were no archaeological finds or deposits present.

Test-trench 4 was located at the eastern end of the development. It measured 25m x 2m. Excavation revealed an undisturbed soil profile, which was dug to a maximum depth of 0.85m.

In summary, pre-planning archaeological testing was undertaken adjacent to a medieval moated site. Six trenches were placed within the area of a proposed dwelling-house. These were all excavated to a level below the natural boulder clay, and a number of features of archaeological significance were noted. A wide ditch extends across the entire width of the central area of the site. There was no evidence for a continuation of this ditch into the trackway separating the proposed development from the moated site. The construction of the trackway resulted in a considerable reduction of the ground level, and it is likely that the ditch was partly destroyed during this activity.

The archaeological assessment indicated that no archaeological features were present in the area of the proposed house. A ditch and an early cultivation feature were noted in the areas of the driveway and the entrance. The engineer for the development agreed in writing not to reduce the ground levels in these areas, and this resulted in no damage being caused to the in situ archaeology.

Reference
Sweetman, P.D. 1981 Excavations of a medieval moated site at Rigsdale, Co. Cork. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 81C, 103–205.