2008:788 - 30 Sir Harry’s Mall, Limerick, Limerick

Test-trenching was undertaken at this site in June 2008 in advance of development. The site is within the zone of archaeological potential for the historic town of Limerick. A house and outbuildings were demolished prior to testing. As the demolition was taking place the rubble was checked for ex situ architectural fragments. A fragment of a mullion was recovered. This piece is likely to date to the 15th/16th centuries. Following the demolition of the structures and the clearance of the site five trenches were opened. All were 4m in length. There was up to 1.5m of modern overburden on the site, with inclusions of red brick, modern glass, crockery, plastics, metal etc. This overlay a black, humic-rich sandy silt with frequent inclusions of animal bone, oyster shells, leather and clay-pipe stems. This layer was up to 2.5m in depth. This overlay a sandy dark-grey material with water-rolled medium stones. The humic layer is interpreted as material dumped in the post-medieval period, and has been recorded in other sites in the area. A large volume of butchered animal bone was present in the rear of the site. This may be linked with local knowledge which refers to the rear of the site as ‘Glue Lane’, suggesting a link with animal processing.