2009:156 - WORLD’S END, KINSALE/KINSALE HARBOUR, Cork

The Archaeological Diving Company Ltd was appointed by Malachy Walsh & Partners on behalf of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) to undertake the programme of construction-phase monitoring off Adam’s Quay, Kinsale Harbour, Co. Cork, during the development of the site started in 2008 (Excavations 2008, No. 261) and completed in 2009. This involved the erection of a lifeboat station consisting of a boat hall of 60m• with training and changing accommodation of 159m• plus ancillary stores. A regime of monitored excavations and artefact recovery procedures, including the metal detection of excavated materials, was conducted at the location of the proposed RNLI station as part of the development planning requirement. No features of archaeological significance were identified within the area of proposed impact.
The monitoring of the excavations and the associated finds recovery strategy discovered a varied and important assemblage of artefacts. As the only section of coastline in Kinsale town maintaining its original configuration, the artefacts recovered reflect the occupation and activities in this geographical area from possibly the prehistoric period (flint artefacts) to the modern period with representations from the medieval, post-medieval and early modern periods all represented.
A record was made of the stratigraphy within the site area and of the approximate find locations within the area of impact, to contribute to the archaeological record of this geographical location for future reference.