2012:547 - Cashel Woollen Store, Rock Lane, Cashel, Tipperary

he project involved constructing single storey extension and associated works to the rear of a single storey retail unit. Condition No. 4 of Planning Schedule PLR/11/1230 required monitoring of ground works. This area encompassed an area of 40m². The site had been subject to previous landfill upon which the unit was originally constructed. Ground works took place in the absence of monitoring. Fresh archaeological stipulations entailed hand excavation of excavated soil and metal detection of same. This phase of the works commenced on 7 March and concluded on 22 March 2012. In the interim, it was found that the soils were saturated and very sticky, as well as mixed with modern materials including concrete blocks. This made hand excavation very difficult and permission was sought to employ a one-tonne mechanical excavator to assist in the work. This was granted on 12 March. The uppermost stratum of the excavated ground was formed of modern landfill directly associated with the construction of the bungalow in the 1970s.
Beneath this resided the original topsoil and underlying silting up of the hollow that may once have been open water. It was evident from the high content of molluscs in the original topsoil that this was formerly very wet ground. The original topsoil also had charcoal inclusions. Both the original topsoil and underlying silt layer may be of archaeological value. However no materials were uncovered from the exposed soil profile to determine this. The materials were taken from site and cleaned to determine their heritage value. Materials of actual or potential heritage value consisted of a musket ball, 29 iron nails and 9 buttons.

Dunburbeg, Clonmel Road, Co. Tipperary.