County: Kilkenny Site name: GORTEENS AND DRUMDOWNEY
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 01E0276
Author: John Tierney, Eachtra Archaeological Projects
Site type: Quay
Period/Dating: Post Medieval (AD 1600-AD 1750)
ITM: E 666568m, N 615151m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.283999, -7.024351
An impact assessment was carried out on several sites of archaeological importance on the banks of the River Suir estuary, to be affected by development at Belview Port.
Testing at Site 3, a quay, was used to seek evidence for early remains and to help determine the relationship between the structure and the estuarine sediments, including sediments of archaeological provenance, while further establishing the depth and extent of the structure. Two test-pits were hand-excavated at the base of the wall.
Site 3 is probably associated with a disused cornmill located directly to the north. It is 40m in length and aligned north-east/south-west, parallel to the river. The quay is of uneven drystone construction. The north-eastern end of the wall has been covered by artificial infill, while the top of the wall has been repaired with cement. A flight of steps located towards the south-eastern end may or may not be original; they are not denoted on the second edition of the Ordnance Survey six-inch map.
The test-pits revealed between two and four further courses of stonework beneath the already visible extents of the quay wall. There were no other apparent features within the excavated test-pits.
Unit 2F, Dungarvan Business Park, Shandon, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford
