2008:347 - Tesco, Knocknagoney, Down

Testing was undertaken on 10 and 11 March 2008 at the site of a Tesco Superstore which is proposed for extension. The testing related to an area of waste ground to the north of the site which is to be developed into additional carpark. The proposed testing regime comprised of a centre line trench dug across the widest part of the waste ground with offset trenches set at 15m intervals. The client’s engineering staff indicated that a series of engineering test-pits had been previously dug across the waste ground revealing made ground to a depth of 4.5m overlaying a natural undisturbed subsoil which consisted of sand. Therefore, for safety and practical reasons, the testing regime was amended to a series of test-pits dug along the projected lines of the trenches.
A total of ten test-pits were all excavated to natural undisturbed subsoil which comprised an orange/
brown sand overlaid with made ground. The made ground comprised of brown red clay and grey clay incorporating heavy stone and other debris; e.g. concrete slabs, brick and tarmac fragments, plastic wrapping. Examination of the local terrain revealed that the waste ground originally lay totally or partially under a ridge which still runs to the north. This ridge was scarped at some period in the past with the ground level severely reduced. Additionally, the construction of the existing Tesco’s saw the scarping of an adjacent hill to the east of the store. The resultant spoil and debris from these groundworks was then bulldozed onto the area of the waste ground to raise the ground level and create a level surface.
No in situ archaeological deposits were uncovered and, based on the evidence of the archaeological and engineering test-pits, it was recommended that no further work was required at this site.