County: Sligo Site name: Queen Maeve's Square, Rathquarter, Sligo
Sites and Monuments Record No.: with SL014-065---- Licence number: 22E0681
Author: Eoin Halpin
Site type: Urban - no archaeology found
Period/Dating: Modern (AD 1750-AD 2000)
ITM: E 569214m, N 836004m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.271915, -8.472644
Sligo County Council proposed to develop the existing Stephen Street carpark into Queen Maeve’s Square, consisting of the refurbishment of the existing carpark, with new street furniture, including public benches and interpretive panels, and new paved surfaces. It is proposed to include covered activity areas, space for outdoor performances and a children’s play area as well as two reinforced lawn areas.
For the majority of the development, the finished surface levels will be as they currently are with ground disturbance extending no lower than 500mm below present ground levels, and it is proposed to utilise existing service conduits for the required power and drainage. The only exception is the new stage area with its cantilevered canopy. The foundations associated with this structure will entail ground disturbance to an average depth of 2m below current ground levels, with two additional foundations trenches extending to 3.5m below. Archaeological investigations took place in January 2023.
Two test areas were opened up in this area which revealed modern in-fill associated with the development of the car park in the mid-20th century extending down to some 1.8m, overlying natural riverine silts. Below this at roughly 2m were natural undisturbed clays.
In the third area investigated, at the west end of the car park, modern in fill was some 800mm in depth overlying different but nonetheless modern made ground extending to 2m below ground levels.
Nothing of archaeological interest was noted in any of the areas investigated
AHC Ltd 36 Ballywillwill Road, Castlewellan Co Down BT31 9LF
