2020:547 - Pattison Housing Estate, Emmett Street, Townparks, Mountmellick, Laois

Archaeological monitoring of excavation works associated with the construction of an extension to the Pattison Housing Estate in Mountmellick, Co. Laois, was carried out on 15 and 16 December 2020.

The residential development is situated on a greenfield site next to the existing Pattison Housing Estate, in the townland of Townparks, on the north-western outskirts of the historic town of Mountmellick, Co. Laois. The site sits between the existing housing estate and the east bank of the Manor House Stream - a tributary of the River Barrow - which flows from south to north on the western periphery of the town. The greenfield site is level and prone to flooding, with an existing berm on the east bank of the Manor House Stream.

Topsoil stripping commenced in the eastern half of the site, extending from the access road to the rear of the existing housing terrace towards the Manor House Stream.

The sod layer (0.15m) overlay a topsoil layer (0.17m) comprising loose, friable mid-brown, gritty sandy silt with frequent small sub-rounded stones; this overlay subsoil, comprising a light grey brown sandy silt with frequent small sub-rounded stones and occasional medium sub-rounded stones. The subsoil was identified as a modern deposit, or made ground, comprising material most likely introduced to the site during the adjacent housing developments. Some areas of burning were also noticeable in parts of the site; these were relatively modern in date.

The formation level for the development will be on average 1m higher than the current ground level, and will require the site to be built up. Hence, the excavation level did not exceed the depth of the stripped sod and topsoil layer.

No archaeological finds, features or deposits were found across the development area.

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