2004:0085 - CARLOW, Carlow

Monitoring of excavations associated with the Carlow Broadband Network was carried out from February to August 2004. The project comprised the laying of ducts containing cables below the ground surface throughout the town of Carlow and its surrounding infrastructure. The majority of the cable was laid below existing roads and footpaths. The ducts carrying the cables were placed at a standard depth of 0.6m, requiring trench excavation to an average depth of 0.9m. Excavations within the zone of archaeological potential were subject to intensive monitoring, while excavations outside the zone were monitored on an intermittent basis.

The suggested course of the town defences was crossed at just one location, the entrance to the public carpark at Potato Market in the south-east part of the medieval town. The course suggested by Bradley in the Urban Archaeological Survey follows the line of a row of buildings (now demolished) which fronted onto the Potato Market. At this location foul water/ sewage poured into the excavated trench, possibly suggesting that an open drain ran in front of the buildings on Potato Market. It is possible that this drain was originally part of a defensive ditch around the medieval town, but this could not be confirmed. Wall foundations representing the south-east corner of a stone building abutted by a later brick structure were exposed in the public carpark in the Potato Market. The walls were 0.6m thick and rendered internally with lime plaster. It was clear that these walls were relatively modern and a 19th-century date is considered to be likely for the demolished buildings. No archaeological material was discovered during monitoring of excavations for the Carlow Broadband Network.

Unit 3, Howley Court, Oranmore, Co. Galway