2012:088 - BALLYMACKEAN, Cork

Test trenching was undertaken in a field outside the north boundary of the property surrounding a 19th-century signal tower (CO137-008) in advance of the construction of a visitor car park. The ground levels in the area to be impacted on had been reduced down into the subsoil during late 20th-century landscaping works. The machine-excavation of seven test trenches confirmed that the topsoil layer was largely absent and teeth-marks from an excavator bucket were noted in the subsoil. Nothing of archaeological significance was encountered in this disturbed area. A 1m² test pit was also manually excavated in the south-east corner of the interior of the signal tower in advance of a proposed conservation project. A possible slate floor was encountered under 0.7m deep overburden material, which contained modern inclusions and mortar-rich silty soil. Further archaeological investigation was recommended in advance of any conservation works.