County: Cork Site name: Baltimore Harbour
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 10D27; 10R68
Author: Eoghan Kieran, Moore Marine Services, Corporate House, Ballybrit Business Park, Galway.
Site type: Maritime
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 709399m, N 775190m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.714912, -6.342641
An underwater impact assessment was carried out on 15 June 2010 of proposed dredging works associated with the extension to the existing Fisheries Pier at Baltimore Harbour, County Cork. The timing of the survey coincided with a low spring tide. Visibility at the time of the survey was moderate and the maximum recorded water depth was 8m.
The assessment was commissioned in order to locate, define and ascertain the character, condition and extent of any archaeological features, deposits or objects which may be affected by the development. The town of Baltimore has a rich and varied history which was intrinsically influenced by the surrounding seascape. The RMP records the presence of a number of monuments in the immediate vicinity dating as far back as the Bronze Age. Further afield there is evidence for Neolithic occupation.
Analysis of cartographic and written sources indicates that Baltimore has been the site of significant activity, both in a maritime and a terrestrial sense, since historic times. The topographical finds register of the National Museum of Ireland records that cannon balls were recovered from the harbour in the 1980s, thus indicating that it was the site of possible conflict. Consequently, the area must be deemed as being of high archaeological potential.
The site survey at the proposed pier extension recorded a large amount of fishing debris and modern detritus including ropes, chains, shackles, tyres, scaffold bars, assorted iron bars and plastic bottles and bags.
Based on the combination of the desktop assessment and the site survey, it would appear that there were no visible or detectable archaeological materials recorded in the area.
