2017:065 - Tead More, Cork

Test trenching was undertaken to investigate a number of geophysical anomalies identified as being of archaeological potential at a proposed solar farm within a large tillage field. An application to use a metal-detector was also submitted to NMS in order to assist in artefact retrieval during test trenching (17R0028). The geophysical survey of the development area was undertaken by Ian Elliot of Irish Geophysical and Archaeological Surveys (Licence 16R0106). In summary, the survey indicated that the field had been impacted upon by intensive ploughing activity but a number of potential archaeological features were identified in the northern end. Test trenching of these potential features and their environs was undertaken in order to investigate the nature and extent of any archaeological remains. Testing along the line of the proposed access tracks and cable runs within the site was also undertaken.

Test trenching confirmed that the subsoil surface had been disturbed by intensive ploughing throughout the field. However, ephemeral traces of an enclosure, identified by geophysics as a weak anomaly indicating the presence of a c. 20m diameter enclosure delimited by two narrow, concentric ditches, were uncovered (centre point @ ITM 591668, 571321). The disturbed remains of two narrow infilled enclosing ditches were noted during manual cleaning on the east side of the enclosure while its western extent could not be clearly defined in an area heavily disturbed by ploughing. There were no traces of any internal features identified within the trench and none were noted in the geophysical survey. The two ditches on the east side were set 1.9m apart with the outer example ranging between 0.3-0.5m wide and the inner ditch averaging 0.5m wide. It appeared that a section of the outer ditch had been partially removed by ploughing activity as the underlying subsoil in this area was revealed during light trowelling. The surfaces of both ditch fills were cleaned, recorded, resealed and left to remain in situ.

No artefacts or other cultural inclusions were noted during cleaning of the surfaces of the ditch fills or during visual and metal-detecting surveys of the spread ploughsoil upcast from the trench. The developer has amended the development design to avoid any impacts on this feature and its environs. The other geophysical anomalies appeared to be the result of a combination of bedrock outcrops on the subsoil surface and modern agricultural activity.

Unit 3A Westpoint Trade Centre, Ballincollig, Co. Cork