2015:277 - 102 Patrick Street, Kilkenny, Kilkenny

Five test trenches were opened inside the structure where internal demolition was to occur. 

Test trench 1 was situated at the rear (western) end of the site. The stratigraphy comprised a rubble overburden 0.3m in depth. This was loosely compacted, dark brown in colour and contained numerous red brick fragments, mortar, small and medium rounded stones. A clay drainage pipe ran east-west the length of the trench.

Stratigraphy in Test trench 2 comprised a layer of concrete, 0.05m in depth, overlying a mid-brown layer of loosely compacted rubble that contained numerous red brick fragments, mortar, small and medium sized rounded stones. The drainage pipe that was found with Trench 1 also extended through the north side of this trench and could be seen in the west-facing section of the baulk.

The stratigraphy in Trench 3 was the same as in Trench 2. Some animal bone fragments and modern white ware pottery shards were found within the upper rubble layer.

Test trench 4 was situated within the interior of the original house. The trench extended from inside the front door back as far as the western boundary wall. The stratigraphy comprised of 0.07m of concrete floor slab overlying 0.6m of loosely compacted, dark brown building rubble. This deposit contained frequent fragments of red brick, mortar & small and medium sized sub-rounded stones. A number of oyster shell fragments were found in this layer along with a corroded British half penny coin, possibly dated 1854.

Trench 5 was also located within the interior of the original house. The stratigraphy was the same as that in Trench 2. Some shards of modern white ware pottery were recovered.

Shanarc Archaeology Ltd. 39A Hebron Business Park, Hebron Road, Kilkenny