2004:0887 - GRANNY, Kilkenny

Waterford City Council proposes to construct an 18km bypass around Waterford city, with associated link roads. The route forms part of the N25 and runs from Kilmeaden in Co. Waterford to Slieverue in Co. Kilkenny. Excavations at Site 48 in the townland of Granny, Co. Kilkenny, were undertaken as part of pre-construction investigations of the N25 Waterford bypass. The work followed the identification of a possible archaeological feature during Contract 3 archaeological testing by Linda Hegarty in 2004 (No. 888, Excavations 2004, 04E0256).

During the course of testing across a steeply sloping escarpment, a drystone wall was exposed at the base of the slope. Excavation was recommended to establish a date for this feature. An area of 100m2 was stripped of topsoil by machine and the remains of the wall were identified. One course of the wall remained in situ. It was of limestone and shale construction and measured 3m in total length, 0.6m in maximum thickness and 0.18m in height. The wall ran in a north-west/south-east direction across the trench.

Occasional animal bone and 19th/20th-century pottery were recovered from around the wall. It is likely that the wall was constructed as a revetment for the overlying embankment. The artefacts from around the wall provide a date for the bank material and the wall may have been contemporary with a demolished vernacular structure that existed to the east of the excavated area.

This work was undertaken under Contract 3 archaeological investigations. The project is funded by the Department of Transport under the National Development Plan 2000–2006. The total archaeological cost is administered by the National Roads Authority through Waterford City Council.

Unit 4b, Europa Enterprise Park, Midleton, Co. Cork