2011:508 - CLONMACNOISE, Offaly
County: Offaly
Site name: CLONMACNOISE
Sites and Monuments Record No.: OF005-003 (01, 02)
Licence number: E4369; C421
Author: Mark Keegan
Author/Organisation Address: National Monuments Service, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Government Buildings, The Glen, Waterford
Site type: No archaeological significance
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 600817m, N 730599m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.325410, -7.987002
E4369; C421
Test excavation was undertaken during May 2011 in advance of the construction of a new water well to serve the Clonmacnoise Visitor Centre. The proposed new well is located beside an existing well, c. 75m to the south-east of the Visitor Centre and c. 56m from the outer bank of OF005-003002 (Earthwork enclosing Anglo-Norman Castle OF005-003001).
A trench measuring 1.5m2 was laid out around the existing well head and was de-sodded by hand. A modern cast-concrete slab was uncovered immediately beneath the sod around the well head, and this extended across the majority of the trench. The slab necessitated movement of the proposed new well to the south-east. In consultation with the National Monuments Service, the trench was extended 0.5m to the south-east and was hand-excavated.
Excavation did not reveal any archaeological deposits. To ensure that no archaeological deposits were present, the base of the trench was extended well into the subsoil to a total depth of 0.84m. Modern finds from the topsoil included modern delft, glass and a single bovine tooth.