County: Cork Site name: CORK: 17, 18, 19a Pope’s Quay and 4–7 Hill Lane
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 00E0934
Author: John Tierney, Eachtra Archaeological Projects
Site type: Quarry
Period/Dating: Modern (AD 1750-AD 2000)
ITM: E 572156m, N 567363m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 51.857775, -8.404222
Testing was carried out in two phases on this site. Five test-trenches were dug, three in an open area at the northern end of the site, and two beneath the site of a recently demolished building, excavated a number of months after the others. There was a significant difference in levels between the higher northern and lower southern ends of the development site owing to the quarrying of bedrock along the banks of the River Lee. An artificial cliff face formed the rear wall of a glass factory on the site.
The trench sections in the open areas at the northern end of the site revealed topsoil with a mix of building rubble. Layers of sediment of 18th- and 19th-century date were found throughout the site but the most noteworthy aspect of the site was the topographical profile caused by quarrying. There was a possible wall in Trench 5, located at 3.032m OD.
There were no other features apparent within the trenches. The most notable surface find was half of a rotary quern found in vegetation on top of the terrace, which may have been deposited onto the site from elsewhere. Alternatively, it may have been dug up from within the site. A number of reused lintels and also some dressed stone were uncovered from the rubble of the demolished buildings. These were recorded on site.
Unit 2F, Dungarvan Business Park, Shandon, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford
