2012:093 - Bandon, Cork

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Cork Site name: Bandon

Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 12E0111

Author: Miriam Carroll

Site type: Urban

Period/Dating:

ITM: E 549041m, N 655055m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.644307, -8.752989

Monitoring of ground works associated with Bandon Sewerage Scheme Stage 2 in the townlands of Gully, Knockbrogan, Cloghmacsimon, Ballylangley and Clogheenavodig was undertaken between June and September 2012. Monitoring of pipe trenching, associated topsoil removal, site investigation trial pits and the excavation of two archaeological test trenches was carried out under this licence. Further testing associated with the scheme was carried out under Ministerial Consent C535.
Pipe trenching for this phase of Bandon Sewerage Scheme was largely confined to the east side of the town on the Glasslinn Road, outside the historic core of Bandon. At this location the pipe trench measured c. 1.8-2m in width and varied in depth from 5-6m. The stratigraphy noted in the trench generally consisted of 0.85-1m of a number of modern tarmac road surfaces and associated fill overlying natural subsoil and rock. No archaeological finds or features were noted in this area.
Monitoring of site investigation trial pits and limited trenching on Cork Road/Watergate Street, east of the suspected line of the town wall, was also undertaken. At the south end of Cork Road/west end of Watergate Street a significant amount of modern disturbance was noted in the excavated pipe trench as a result of the presence of existing services. A probable 19th-century stone wall and associated cobbled yard surface was uncovered in the pipe trench further to the north on the corner of Cork Road. A drawn, photographic and descriptive record was made prior to their removal. No archaeological features were noted in this area.
Topsoil removal in two green field areas, north of the Glasslinn Road and south of Allen Square, was also monitored. No archaeological finds or features were uncovered.
Monitoring of ground works at Pumping Station 1 in an existing car park off Brady’s Lane was undertaken. The stratigraphy in this area consisted of tarmac overlying a mixed rubble fill with inclusions of concrete blocks, pipes, red brick, etc. An orange natural subsoil was exposed beneath the rubble and no archaeological finds or features were uncovered.
Testing of Pumping Station 2 in an existing car park off Bridge Lane was also carried out. Two test trenches were excavated within the footprint of the proposed pumping station. The majority of the material excavated from the trenches was post-medieval to modern in date with disturbance from modern services also apparent. A north-south-oriented stone wall was exposed at the west end of Trench 1 at a depth of only 0.2m below present ground level. Cartographic evidence would suggest that it may be part of a structure which fronted onto Bridge Lane in the 19th century. A photographic and descriptive record was made of the wall which was preserved in situ.
Work on this phase of the scheme was subsequently suspended and no further monitoring took place in 2012.

Tobar Archaeological Services, Saleen, Midleton, Co. Cork