2006:280 - Belgooley, Cork

Five test-trenches were excavated as part of an assessment of a proposed housing development site within the zone of archaeological potential surrounding Belgooly Mill. The consulted cartographic and pictorial sources indicated the presence of a number of now-levelled mill buildings to the south-east of the extant mill structure.
The stratigraphy encountered in the test-trenches excavated at the recorded location of these buildings suggested that this area had been extensively disturbed in modern times. A 2m-deep deposit of modern landfill material was uncovered immediately beneath the sod layer across the length of two 30m-long test-trenches excavated in this area. According to local information the soil and building rubble in this area was removed and used to raise the ground levels during construction of a modern petrol station located to the west of the development site. The stratigraphy encountered in the trenches excavated in the area to the south of the mill consisted of thin deposits of topsoil overlying the undisturbed natural subsoil. There were no archaeological features or finds uncovered in any of the test-trenches excavated at this site. Due to difficulties with access it was not possible to excavate test-trenches in the area of a proposed carpark to the north-east of the extant mill building and it was recommended that construction works in this area be monitored. It was also recommended that any ground works carried out as part of a proposed conservation project within the mill building be carried out under archaeological supervision.