2008:1011 - Monasteroris, Edenderry, Offaly

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Offaly Site name: Monasteroris, Edenderry

Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 07E0383

Author: Eoin Sullivan, Gort Archaeology, Tullamore, Co. Offaly.

Site type: Testing

Period/Dating:

ITM: E 660859m, N 732891m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.342753, -7.086073

The development site is located on the north-west side of Edenderry town in Monasteroris townland. The proposed development (Edenderry Business Park) was for 21 single-storey light industrial/
warehouse units with two-storey office areas in three blocks on a greenfield site. A badly denuded ringfort (OF012–002) is located on the high ground in the southern field along the road frontage. Due to the close proximity of the ringfort, the local authority requested further information based upon excavated test-trenches.
A test excavation was undertaken between 2 and 9 May 2007. The site was assessed on the basis of 27 mechanically excavated trenches systematically located throughout the site of the proposed development. Two of the test-trenches revealed features, one of which was a modern land drain while the other was a small pit contained within the confines of the trench. Due to the presence of the ringfort and the pit it was recommended that all groundworks associated with the development be monitored.
The proposed development received full planning permission and the first phase of construction works commenced in November 2007. Between November and December groundworks associated with the site access road, roundabouts, site compound and associated drainage works and attenuation tank were monitored. No features or soils of archaeological significance were encountered on the site. Further groundworks are planned to commence in 2008 (see No. 1012 below).

Editor’s note: This summary arrived too late for inclusion in the 2007 bulletin.