Research

Earthsound Archaeological Geophysics have undertaken a number of research projects over the years working with archaeological researchers and national agencies, funded by organisations such as The Heritage Council and the Royal Irish Academy:

  • Site M, an Early Medieval Cemetery, at Knowth in the Boyne Valley, County Meath
  • Waun Wen Upland Survey, Wales
  • Templenacroha Church, County Wexford
  • St. Johns Church, Kilkenny
  • Toureen Peakaun, An Early Medieval Monastic Site, Co. Tipperary
  • The Bishops Palace, Kilkenny
  • Abergwesyn Common Upland Survey, Wales
  • Kilkenny Castle

Earthsound Archaeological Geophysics are currently involved in research at:

Rathnadrinna Fort, Cashel, County Tipperary

This project, funded by The Heritage Council, uses a series of high resolution geophysical surveys within the Rathnadrinna Fort and the surrounding landscape. Rathnadrinna ('fort of the contest') was until recently thought to be a trivallate enclosure, measuring approximately 90m between its internal banks; it is one of several hill top enclosures surrounding Cashel. The aim of the project is to investigate the archaeological content of Rathnadrinna Fort and its environs and to map the composition of extant earthworks.

Geophysical surveys have determined that Rathnadrinna is a quadrivallate fort and revealed the presence of an outer enclosure ditch measuring 250m in diameter. A large number of circular ring-ditches, containing slot trenches and drip gullies also surround the fort; a number of possible satellite forts have also been found. No habitation evidence has been revealed within the fort itself, but a number of circular (possibly ceremonial) ditches within the fort have been identified.

Kilcashel Landscape Project, County Mayo

The Kilcashel Landscape Project, funded by The Heritage Council and Earthsound Archaeological Geophysics, is investigating the natural and built history of a rural townland in County Mayo. The project was established to address issues concerning settlement dispersal and in particular the formation and development of several enclosures, ringforts and cashels in the townland of Kilcashel, near Kilmovee, County Mayo. The project is run in conjunction with local community volunteers who join us for fieldwork opportunities.

An archaeological inventory of the townland has been compiled and is complemented by a field-walking survey. Geophysical surveys have been undertaken within Kilcashel Stone Fort revealing the presence of a number of possible structural remains, a souterrain, pits and divisional boundaries. On the outside of the Stone Fort a possible external ditch and relict field boundaries were also identified.

You can keep up with all the latest developments on the Kilcashel website: www.kilcashel.com

NRA Research Fellowship

Earthsound are working with the University of Bradford and the Irish National Roads Authority (NRA) as an Industrial Partner for the NRA Fellowship award 'Preparing for the future: A reappraisal of archaeo-geophysical surveying on National Road Schemes 2001-2010'. The research is funded by the NRA and supports a studentship that will be undertaken by Earthsound Director James Bonsall, who has taken a sabbatical from the company to study for a PhD. Earthsound are providing James with geophysical equipment, survey assistants, transportation and a full suite of office and administration support. There is considerable international interest in validating the outcomes of ground based remote sensing and the reappraisal of NRA schemes can play a major part via this research.