2017:184 - BALLYKNOCK, Tipperary

Four test trenches were excavated on 7 October within the footprint of proposed house, septic tank and percolation area, driveway and scarping of site at rear. The excavated soil was spread for visual inspection. Trenches 1 to 4 respectively measured 25m, 40m, 40m and 35m in length, with Trench 4 being the closest to a set of three enclosures (TS061-007001, 007002 and 007003) located between 60m and 70m away. A 20m buffer was also established to protect the sites during construction. The overall depths of the trenches were 0.25–0.4m. It was found that the more level and lower lying northern aspect of the site provided natural subsoil levels at a depth of up to 0.4m. The natural subsoil consisted of yellow sandy clay with frequent inclusions of small decayed limestone. No archaeology was encountered.