1993:222 - DUNCANNON FORT, Duncannon, Wexford

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Wexford Site name: DUNCANNON FORT, Duncannon

Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 93E0029

Author: Martin Reid

Site type: Bastioned fort

Period/Dating: Post Medieval (AD 1600-AD 1750)

ITM: E 672632m, N 608214m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.220889, -6.936977

Duncannon Fort is located on a rocky promontory on the east shore of Waterford Harbour, to the west of the village of Duncannon. In 1588 a strong defensive fort was built, and it is this structure which, with a few modifications, still stands on the site. As part of the ongoing works by Wexford County Council, the substantial moat was to be cleared of the backfill deposited in the 1940s.

The pre-1940s levels were known from an archaeological investigation carried out in 1992 under the direction of Mr. Ben Murtagh. The subsequent machine clearance was carried out between the 1st and 5th March. The stratigraphy of the moat consisted of three main horizons: the post 1940s backfill; the topsoil prior to the backfill; the deposits earlier than the topsoil.

Finds from the earliest of these horizons did not pre-date the 17th century and as they consisted of moderately frequent building materials, it seems likely that prior to their deposition the dry moat was kept clear of rubble. This horizon was not excavated in 1993, but the pottery and other remains from the excavation in the previous year were catalogued.

Besides the machine clearance of the moat, a small investigation was undertaken within the area of the lunette in the north end of the moat. A lunette is a semi-circular type of fortification like a bastion.

The purpose of the investigation was to see if there were any steps leading out from the tunnel by which access to the lunette was gained. No such steps or cobbling were found and the finds from this excavation were much the same as those found in the outer parts of the dry moat.

32 Rathgar Ave., Dublin 6