2008:605 - Green Street, Dingle, Kerry

Two phases of test-trenching were carried out on 16 August 2007 and 18 July 2008 in advance of the construction of a single-storey commercial unit at Green Street, Dingle, Co. Kerry. Three trenches were excavated during the first phase of works measuring a total length of 17.3m. In Trench 1 the topsoil overlay irregular sized and shaped stones coarsely placed in layers; these stones were most likely the remains of one of the outbuildings evident on the first-edition OS map or may be a continuation of the existing coach-house on the site, as the wall identified is in line with its front wall. A disused sewer pipe was recorded orientated east–west towards the south of the trench, heavily disturbing the area.
In Trench 2 the sod and topsoil was 0.1m deep. Underlying this at the western end was light-brown white silty sandy clay with occasional small pebbles. This overlay organic dark-brown silty clay reaching 0.75m in depth. This clay was the secondary fill of a U-shaped cut; the basal fill was orange/brown silty clay. The true depth of this feature is unknown due to the depth of the trench being over 1.2m (Health and Safety regulations). This feature cuts yellow clay which overlies irregular large stones. The eastern extent of these stones was not determined due to the possibility of the boundary wall (between the proposed development site and Green Street) collapsing with the vibration from the excavating machine. Trench 2 was extended northwards from the east end for 0.8m to follow these stones; the continuation was difficult to determine due to the small area excavated. An underground telecom wire orientated north-west/south-east halted the excavation of this trench. This proposed development lies within the medieval town wall and opposite what is said to be the site of a castle. The stones in Trench 2 were of varying sizes and did not appear to be cut stone, but they may be from the core of the collapsed town walls or the castle and were imported to this area to raise the level of the site, or, it may also be the collapse of a building identified on the first-edition OS map. The feature cutting this yellow clay may be a later drain. The trenches are difficult to interpret as the small area excavated is so heavily disturbed.
Trench 3 contained remains of red brick and garden soils.
Phase 2 work was undertaken as part of a resubmission of a planning application. Planning permission was not granted on this site due to the possibility of archaeology being located towards the south of the site (Trench 2 – Phase 1). The site layout plan was revised omitting any construction works in the vicinity of the possible archaeology. The proposed development is now an extension of the existing coach-house, which will include the demolition of an existing toilet.
Two trenches measuring a total length of 9.1m were excavated. In Trench 1 a moderate amount of stones in the north-west/south-east section were identified; these stones were of various sizes and were not forming a structure; they appeared to be waste material or most likely collapse from the possible building recorded in Trench 1 of Phase 1 testing.
A concrete band identified in Trench 2 is difficult to determine; it may be associated with the sewer pipe identified in Trench 1, Phase 1.
No significant archaeological deposits or artefacts were identified during Phase 2 testing.