2018:582 - Fethard, Tipperary

Pre-construction testing was undertaken of a proposed public park at Burke Street, Fethard. Tipperary County Council, which owns the site, had obtained planning permission and funding to turn the site into a "pocket" park and pedestrian walkway. As part of the public planning process, an Archaeological Impact Assessment (AIA) was undertaken of the proposed public park and walkway. One of the mitigation measures in the AIA recommended a programme of pre-construction testing. The proposed public park will be located within the centre of Fethard town on the north side of Burke Street. The site is within the zone of archaeological potential for Fethard town. The medieval town wall extends along the west side of the site, with it accordingly being an extra-mural plot. It was previously occupied by two derelict town houses and rear gardens.

Six trenches were opened. Two openings were set back from the town wall, aligned parallel to it, whilst the other four extended across the site, on an east-west alignment. It was instantly apparent that this site had been previously heavily disturbed. This included the dumping of building debris from the time of constructing the adjoining housing estate to the north-east. In all trenches, quantities of building materials and rubbish had been burieddumped, then levelled with imported topsoil to an average depth of 0.2m¬¬. Some of the rubble from the demolition of the two derelict houses which fronted the property was also dumped on the site.

A cultivation furrow dating to the 19th century was identified in the first trench opened. Two wall foundations were uncovered in Trench 5 and, based on the bonding agent used, a Portland cement, also dated to this period.

In Trench 2, at right angles and 4m east of the town wall, were two features. Located towards the south-west end of the trench, F.3 comprised a cut extending across the trench running north-west/south-east, commencing below the imported topsoil. It measured 0.39m wide and 0.58m high and was vertical-sided. The single fill consisted of a mix of dark brown topsoil, re-deposited natural soil and frequent angular stones; chip board was observed within the fill.

Also at the south-west of the trench - i.e. the end nearest to the town wall - was a deposit
extending across the width of the trench. It had an exposed length of 2.1m (north-east/south-west) and occurred 0.65-0.7m below present ground level; it consisted a very dark silty soil and appeared to be cut into the natural deposition. It is considered this deposit could be a component of the town ditch, as it was in the likely location, and of high archaeological importance. This deposit was cut by F.3, and furthermore a number of furrows were visible on the north-east facing section cutting into this deposit at the base of the trench.

It is also considered the lowest layer in Trench 4 may have been of archaeological provenance. Occurring c. 0.7m below present ground level, beneath trunking, it comprised a compact, very dark brown friable, almost organic, layer. Two features were identified in this trench. Located towards the south-west end a relatively modern wall was exposed in its northern section. Extending partially beneath the wall was a second feature, F.6. Roughly semi-circular in plan, its fill comprised a dark brown, almost black, clay with frequent rounded and angular cobbles as well as frequent to abundant charcoal and mortar flecks. It was considered this feature was of archaeological provenance. This feature cut into a compact dark orange/ginger brown clay with occasional to frequent stone inclusions.

This is also the interpretation regarding the lower levels in Trench 3. Just under 0.8m below ground level, compact, dark brown layers with evidence of small quantities of butchered animal bone, as well as other material which is the result of human habitation, was exposed. These dark brown compacted layers were therefore considered to be of archaeological potential.

17 Staunton Row, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary