2013:155 - Slievenamon Road, Thurles, Tipperary

Planning permission was sought to build a Funeral Home, open a new pedestrian entrance off Slievenamon Road, a new vehicular entrance off Thomond Road, connect to services and undertake associated site works at the Slievenamon Road and Thomond Road junction, Thurles, An Archaeological Impact Assessment was required as part of the planning process.

A Geophysical survey was undertaken across the proposed development site. The gradiometer survey was complicated by magnetic disturbance from the surrounding buildings and the data was severely disturbed. No archaeological interpretation could be provided from the gradiometer data set. The resistance survey, however, was less affected by modern disturbance. Although there were no clear responses indicative of archaeology, there was a faint curvilinear trend in the western half of the data. Archaeological interpretation was unclear and it was possible that modern debris may be represented. High resistance responses along the western part of the site may reflect the root system of the adjacent trees bounding parts of the site.

Following the Geophysical Survey, two test trenches were opened to determine the anomalous readings identified in the Geophysical Survey. It was considered that the circular feature in the first trench was a soak pit associated with the house to the south of this site, whilst the faint curvilinear trend in the second opening was a result of a change within the underlying natural strata, and possibly reflected a change in the frequency and density of stones present beneath the natural clays. No further anomalies or features of potential archaeological provenance were identified in testing, to those reflected by the Geophysical Survey.  It is therefore considered there will be no archaeological impact on this proposed development.

Mary Henry Archaeological Services Ltd, 17 Staunton Row, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary