2006:1914 - Gaol Road, Roscrea, Tipperary

Six test-trenches were excavated at Gaol Road, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary, prior to a proposed mixed-use development. Testing commenced at the site on 22 November 2006 and lasted for three days. This was carried out using both a JCB and a 6-tonne tracked excavator with a flat toothless bucket. Trenches 1–3 were excavated in a green area located at the north of the area of proposed development and revealed nothing of archaeological significance. Trench 4 was located within an enclosed area right beside part of the original malt store that currently occupies the site. Trenches 5 and 6 were excavated in the south-east portion of the site. Not all areas of the site could be accessed for the purposes of this investigation due to standing modern structures.
All of the trenches had varying depths with a marked deepening of subsoil level towards the north and west, reflecting the original slope in the land (apparent in the surrounding environment). Testing did not reveal any evidence of occupation at the site which pre-dated the construction of the malt store in the 18th century. This may indicate that either the area remained unoccupied, possibly used for pasture or crop growing prior to the industrialisation of the site, or that subsequent development of this site completely truncated any potential surviving earlier remains. It is thought that the lack of any medieval artefacts or intrusive material (although some of the trenches were of significant depth) may render the first option more likely.
Features identified included a potential floor surface within the original malt store structure, truncated by later walls. This surface was also noted in a trench excavated outside of the former structure; this surface appeared to have been associated with a wall which may correspond to a boundary depicted on the first- and second-editions OS maps.