County: Carlow Site name: CHAPELSTOWN, Carlow
Sites and Monuments Record No.: CW007-066 and CW007-067 Licence number: 04E1661
Author: Mary Henry, Mary Henry Archaeological Services Ltd.
Site type: Enclosure
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 674409m, N 675996m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.829777, -6.895799
Testing works were carried out associated with an application for planning permission to construct a retail development on the outskirts of Carlow town. Two enclosures are sited close to or within the confines of the proposed development site. Testing concentrated on opening nineteen trenches. It was apparent that this landscape had suffered considerable ploughing activity over recent centuries, as there were a large number of furrows within the trench sections. A large ploughed-out field boundary was also uncovered.
Within the trenches opened, a number of linear features were discovered, although no associated features or artefacts, either ancient or modern, were found. By far the largest feature discovered was a ploughed-out field boundary, revealed in three trenches. This was marked on both the first- and second-edition OS maps. Two probably curvilinear ditches were discovered between the river and the field boundary. It was possible they were concentric.
A number of trenches were opened on the projected site of the eastern cropmark visible in an aerial photograph (SMR 7:67). A curvilinear ditch was discovered in three trenches. This ditch corresponded to the location of the cropmark as marked on the AP. No artefacts or charcoal were found with this feature, although it is considered to be of archaeological provenance.
Testing confirmed the presence of the enclosure as originally identified on an AP. Further archaeological works will ensue to resolve the site.
17 Staunton Row, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary
