2014:499 - COBH, Cork

Geotechnical investigations undertaken on the Cobh Collection Network Scheme comprised the excavation of one hundred and twenty-eight slit trenches along the proposed route of the pipeline. Thirty-eight of the slit trenches were selected for archaeological monitoring. Features of archaeological significance were identified in eight of the trenches. The archaeological remains recorded include walls, cobbling and culverts. Culverts were recorded in trenches on East Beach, Park View, East Hill and Middleton Street. The basal remains of a wall, orientated east-west, were recorded on West Beach which may represent an informal quay wall. The exposed section comprises three large stones with no evidence of mortar adhering. Two east-west orientated walls were recorded in a trench on Harbour Terrace. A wall was also uncovered on Thomas Kent Street. These walls appeared to be boundary or garden walls. An area of cobbling was recorded at Westbourne Place. The cobbling was comprised of locally derived rounded sandstone cobbles and its northern edge was delineated by two kerbstones. A cobbled surface was also identified along Harbour Row that most likely reflects an earlier street surface. The cobbling was comprised of locally derived rounded or oblong sandstone cobbles. Its southern end was delineated by a single sandstone kerbstone.