County: Carlow Site name: Tullow, Tullowphelim
Sites and Monuments Record No.: CW008-045 Licence number: 22E0801
Author: Maeve McCormick
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 685261m, N 673464m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.805418, -6.735470
An archaeological test excavation was undertaken on 25 October 2022 on lands to the north of Tullow, Co. Carlow in advance of the development of a cycle and footpath.
It was proposed to excavate 5 trenches measuring 190 linear metres (320m sq) along the route of the cycle/footpath. The entire route of the proposed cycle/footpath had been disturbed on various occasions, most recently as a result of the construction of the three nearby housing estates, Oakley Heights, An Caisleán and Court View housing developments and the paving of the current Castle Lane footpath.
It was not possible to excavate Trench 1 due to underground electricity wires running from Oakley Wood to An Caisleán Housing Developments. Trenches 2 & 3 were excavated to a depth between 0.6-1.1m. They were more narrow than proposed along the length of the trench due to the Castle Lane footpath and an earthern bank obstructing either side. They contained 2 layers beneath the topsoil. The upper layer comprised 0.2-0.3cm of compact levelling gravel used for path construction. This contained plastic and glass. The bottom layer (from c.0.4m depth onwards) comprised moderately compact orange-brown sandy silt with frequent stones and red brick.
Trenches 4, 5a & 5b were all excavated between Castle Lane and Court view along disturbed land. They varied between 1-1.2m in depth and contained a moderately loose, light grey-brown, silty clay single fill with moderate large stones and frequent plastic & metal rubbish.
No archaeological features or objects were recorded in any of the excavated trenches.
Archer Heritage Planning, 8 Beat Centre, Stephenstown, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin.
