County: Limerick Site name: Moneteen, Caheranardrish, Dromdarrig & Baunacloka
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 22E0474
Author: Stuart D. Elder, on behalf of Daniel Noonan Archaeological Consultancy
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: Modern (AD 1750-AD 2000)
ITM: E 553890m, N 653371m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.629603, -8.681116
Prior to the commencement of the topsoil stripping programme, most of the existing farm buildings at Caheranardrish were cleared, except for two structures that hosted nesting birds. The first edition six-inch Ordnance Survey shows five structures at this location, but the number and position of these structures changed significantly over time, such that no original structures remained prior to demolition.
Topsoil stripping commenced in Caharanadrish townland and continued south towards an extant field boundary. Topsoil comprised a 0.05-0.1m-deep layer of dark yellowish-brown silty clay containing occasional small sub-angular stones and overlay a mid-orangey-brown silty clay containing moderate small sub-angular stones and occasional larger fragments of angular stone. General depth of stripping was 0.2-0.3m, with occasional depths of 0.5m reached onto a pale reddish-brown silty clay.
Several regularly-spaced north-south orientated narrow linear features were noted across the area, which may be remnants of plough furrows. Occasional patches of burnt clay were investigated but found to be highly ephemeral and not contained within any definable feature or deposit, and thus considered to be the result of agricultural activity.
Sherds of post-medieval ceramics including brown/black glazed earthenwares, and white-glazed wares were noted throughout the soil profile, as were occasional corroded iron objects such as nails and fragments of sheet metal.
The works area passed through six fields in Dromdarrig townland, resulting in the total removal of one field boundary, and the partial removal of six others. Topsoil and ploughzone was removed to a depth of 0.25-0.35m across the works area in the higher ground to the west of the townland, whereas the lower-lying land in the eastern half featured a greater depth of topsoil cover and was stripped to a depth of up to 0.5m. The only cultural material noted in the soil profile was close to the field boundaries and was again all post-medieval to 20th century in date.
Upon removal of an east-north-east/west-south-west-orientated field boundary on the western side of the Dromdarrig/Baunacloka townland boundary, two lines of medium-sized angular limestone rubble were noted 1.2m (4ft) apart, running parallel with, but immediately to the south of the former field boundary. Nothing was visible of the track prior to clearance of the field boundary, although it is depicted on the most recent historic 6-inch map, running between the townland boundary and a T-shaped farm building depicted on the same map.
The works area traversed five fields in Baunacloka townland, resulting in the partial removal of four field boundaries. Topsoil here was barely 0.2m deep onto a very firm mid-yellowish-brown silty clay, very stony in places. The presence of natural bedrock close to the surface became more prevalent as the stripping progressed upslope towards the north.
Nothing of archaeological significance was noted during the course of monitoring of topsoil stripping, and at no time were works held up in order to investigate any possible archaeological deposits.
Gurteen Cottage, Gurteen, Kilmichael, Macroom, Co. Cork
