2024:353 - Walsh Island, Garrymona, Offaly

Uisce Éireann undertook  the replacement of approximately 2,346m of existing 75mm diameter pipe to 125m pipe. Archaeological monitoring involved the supervision of five pits excavated within the Zone of Potential for both archaeological sites. The pits were excavated to undertake horizontal drilling.

All five pits measured between 0.9m and 2.4m in length, 0.7m and 2m in width and 1.2m and 1.6m in depth. They were situated at ITM 651595 719268; 651599 719172; 651600 719209; 651592 719212; and 651593 719180. The pits were mechanically excavated using a flat edged bucket under archaeological supervision.

For the most part the encountered stratigraphy consisted of 0.2m to 0.4m of tarmac road surface, including basal bedding layers onto orange-brown sandy gravel for the remainder, or 0.25m topsoil over orange-brown sandy gravel for the remainder. One pit, Pit 3 also retained modern reinforced concrete at its south end.