2025:718 - Water-rock, Midelton, Cork
County: Cork
Site name: Water-rock, Midelton
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A
Licence number: 25E0917
Author: Paul Fingleton
Author/Organisation Address: John Cronin & Associates, 3a Westpoint Trade Centre, Ballincollig, Cork
Site type: Test excavation
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 586060m, N 574740m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 51.924608, -8.202673
A programme of archaeological testing comprising fourteen test trenches, totalling 1,307m in length, was undertaken across the proposed development area. The trenches targeted subsurface anomalies identified during a preceding geophysical survey (25R0192).
The trenches revealed a broadly consistent stratigraphic sequence of topsoil overlying natural clay subsoil, with minor natural variation across the site. Several geophysical anomalies within the south-eastern field were investigated and determined to represent agricultural or geological features rather than archaeological remains.
Archaeological features were identified in three discrete locations. In the northern field, Trench 1 exposed a charcoal-rich hearth with two possible associated stake-holes. Within the southern field group, Trench 4 contained a sub-oval pit with pyrolithic material, while Trench 11 revealed a large oval hearth. These isolated features represent the only confirmed archaeological remains identified during the testing programme, with no additional archaeological features or deposits recorded elsewhere within the development area.