County: Limerick Site name: KILMALLOCK: Ash Hill
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 02E0744
Author: Máire Ní Loingsigh, Sheila Lane & Associates
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 560431m, N 628005m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.402137, -8.581471
Testing was carried out before the development of a carpark in Kilmallock. The site is directly outside the western town wall, c. 80m north-west of Blossom Gate. The western section of the limestone town wall is well preserved and in places stands to c. 3.5m high. Three trenches, 0.5m deep, were excavated perpendicular to the town wall, and five further trenches, 1.2m deep, tested the location of light standards and associated ducting 3m west of, outside, the town wall. Much of the stratigraphy at the site consisted of dark brown topsoil that in places contained limestone rubble. Close to the wall there was evidence of building debris in the form of mortar and stone chips. After excavation the trenches filled with water very quickly, which indicated the presence of springs in the area.
Directly west of the wall the topsoil contained large amounts of 19th-/20th-century rubbish for a length of 4m east–west and to a depth of 1.2m, where natural clay was present. The disturbed topsoil may represent the fill of a ditch or fosse outside the western town wall. This fill was particularly evident in Trench 4, where the limit of the possible fosse was visible in the line between the dark brown fill and the natural clay, 4m west of the wall. Previous excavations in Kilmallock have also produced evidence of defensive ditches around the town (Excavations 1999, No. 511, and Excavations 2000, No. 586).
Further archaeological monitoring of the development has been recommended.
AE House, Monahan Road, Cork
