County: Tipperary Site name: Gaol Road, Parkmore, Roscrea
Sites and Monuments Record No.: TN012–010 Licence number: 07E0079
Author: James Kyle, Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd, 120B Greenpark Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow.
Site type: No archaeological significance
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 613797m, N 689186m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.953285, -7.794670
Testing was undertaken at Malt Vale, Roscrea, prior to a proposed retail development. A section of the area proposed for development is located within the zone of archaeological potential of the town of Roscrea and the site also contains protected structure RC099, The Maltings. Test-trenching took place on 26 February 2007. This was carried out using a 20-tonne excavator with a flat toothless bucket. A total of twenty trenches were mechanically investigated across the test area.
Testing did not reveal any features or deposits of archaeological significance. Testing of Area A was restricted due to the standing structures, intact roads and concrete yards on site. Trenches could only be dug adjacent to the structures on what appeared to be grassy areas, although when commenced these areas were revealed to be a simple build-up of soils and debris which were covered by grass growth and these mostly overlay more concrete and tarmac associated with the previous use of the site. The tarmac and concrete layers were found to overlay hardcore, which in turn overlay an original topsoil horizon and subsoil.
Testing of Area B was restricted because a large portion of this area had been quarried out and overhead power lines also impeded testing. Additionally there was significant evidence recovered by the testing to suggest that the seemingly intact area surrounding the quarry had in fact been the subject of some removal/redeposit of materials.
