1997:615 - JOHNSTOWN SOUTH, Wicklow

Commissioned by Wicklow Co. Council, this excavation was carried out on the route of the proposed bypass of Arklow town. Prior to initial investigation, in August 1996, the site was thought to be that of a ringfort (Excavations 1996, 116). Full excavation of the site commenced on 13 January 1997 and was completed on 1 September 1997.

The site is located some 4km north of Arklow town, at the foot of Ballymoyle Hill. To the east and south-east the land falls gradually to the sea 1km to the east. The site was represented as a subcircular enclosure on the 1st edition of the OS map (1838) and similarly on subsequent editions, where it is named ‘Raheen’. All that visibly survived was a low bank, c. 0.5m high and 9–10m wide, enclosing an area c. 36m north–south and 33m east–west. The bank survived best from north through east to the south-west, but was much denuded in the west and north-west. There was no clear evidence for any entranceway, but one may have existed in the west.

The excavation divided the site into four irregularly shaped quadrants (A–D) which were manually excavated to reveal the full extent of the site within the limit of the road-take. In addition to the main site, some seventeen smaller trenches were manually dug in the area to be affected by the proposed development.

The disturbance caused by agricultural activity was highlighted by the variety of finds from the sod and ploughsoil levels. These included prehistoric pottery, worked flint, and coins from the last century, as well as modern pottery, clay pipes and glass fragments.

The enclosing bank was evident at surface level as a slight rise with occasional uprights protruding through the sod. The bank consisted of both large uprights and smaller stones which in general resembled a stone spread rather than a definite wall structure; it was disturbed throughout by ridge and furrow activity. While no clear inner or outer face was apparent there was, on the external edge of Quadrant A and the internal edge of Quadrants C and D, a line of boulders, many of which were upright. In other areas boulders were lying flat on the ground but may originally have been uprights, as evidenced by the large sockets revealed during excavation.

Intermixed with the stone spread in Quadrant D was a high concentration of slag, clay mould fragments and furnace material. Similarly, in Quadrant C, clay mould fragments, flint, coarseware pottery and burnt bone were uncovered in this layer. The removal of the stone spread in Quadrant A showed that it overlay an ashy grey/brown layer and an orange/brown sandy clay which contained much charcoal and produced large amounts of pottery and flint. Also uncovered underlying the spread was a stone-lined cremation pit, constructed of four uprights and a capstone. A further cremation pit, with no indications of stone lining or markings, was uncovered in the interior of Quadrant A. A third cremation, similar to this, was found to the south-west of the site when Quadrant A was extended southwards.

A high concentration of pottery (among which were two pieces of cord-impressed ware), burnt bone, flint and frequent inclusions of charcoal were recovered from beneath the stone spread in Quadrant C. Some 37 stake-holes and two shallow pits were found to cut into the natural boulder clay in this area. The majority of the stake-holes were grouped in threes and ran in an arc from north-west to south. In Quadrant D the removal of the stone spread revealed a grey/brown sandy silt which contained frequent inclusions of charcoal flecks and finds of both flint and pottery.

Extensive activity in the form of stake- and postholes was found throughout the site. In some instances the remnants of burnt and charred wood were discovered at the base of these cuts. In addition to the post- and stake-holes, excavation also uncovered a number of deep pits/cuts which may have functioned as storage pits. Others appeared as irregularly shaped cuts with evidence of intense burning throughout.

In the interior of Quadrant A excavation uncovered a large oval pit cut into the natural gravel; it was 3.1m long, 2.2m wide and 0.68m deep. The fill consisted of successive layers of burning with a high concentration of organic material throughout.

Evidence for possible hearth features was uncovered in Quadrants A, C and D cut into C248. Underlying C248, in Quadrant C, a slightly raised area along the south baulk revealed a high concentration of flint-knapping material. Two stake-holes were found to cut into this raised area, which was defined in the east by a layer of stones (1.2m by 2.5m) sloping east. Excavations in Quadrant D showed a continuation of this feature with abundant finds of flint fragments.

To the east of the enclosure two small furnace pits were revealed below the ploughsoil and cutting into an orange/brown silty clay. Some 5m to the east of the enclosure the removal of ploughsoil revealed a stone and earthen bank with a ditch on either side. The bank measured 2.5m in width and was 0.16m deep. The west ditch was 1.14m in width and 0.42m deep, while the east ditch measured 2.5m in width and was 0.4m deep.

Subsequent monitoring of topsoil-stripping in the area showed this feature to continue to the present N11 roadway.

In addition to the main excavation, some seventeen smaller trenches were excavated, six to the north of the site, four to the east and seven to the south. Few exposed archaeological features and finds. Cuttings 1 and 11 revealed further evidence of a bank to the south of the site. This bank, which survived best in the west, ran in an arc from west to east and produced numerous finds of coarseware pottery.

Cutting 2 showed a continuation of the double ditched feature uncovered to the east of Quadrant C. Further evidence of this feature was revealed in monitoring of topsoil-stripping to the north of the site. It consisted of a bank with a shallow ditch on either side. These features were found to run in an arc from south-east to north-west and appear to have continued out to the present N11 roadway.

In excess of 4000 finds were retrieved. While the majority consisted of fragments of coarseware pottery and various flint pieces, a considerable number of intact artefacts were recovered. Among these were a bronze ring pin and a bronze penannular brooch. The former was discovered in the area of the wall spread in Quadrant A, while the brooch was found immediately south of the wall spread in Quadrant D.

Preliminary sorting of pottery sherds has revealed a wide variety of fabrics and forms. While the majority of the pottery found consists of undecorated coarseware, the many rims and basal sherds should aid possible reconstruction of the types of vessels utilised at Johnstown South. Significantly, the decorated pottery includes good examples of cord-impressed ware and perforated rims. While it may be hazardous to predict specific dates for Johnstown South based on the pottery, it appears that the pottery finds would agree with the dates given for other artefacts identified, i.e. principally Bronze Age with activity into the medieval period.

Preliminary sorting of flints prior to specialist attention indicates that the majority of pieces are flakes and cores; however, among the artefact assemblage there are hollow-based arrowheads, scrapers, blades, a barbed and tanged arrowhead and a leaf-shaped arrowhead. Flint finds were common throughout the site but were particularly concentrated in an area which extended from Quadrant C to Quadrant D. Here large quantities of flint débitage were recovered, suggesting that this may have been a flint-knapping area.

Industrial activity on site is highlighted by the considerable quantity of slag recovered throughout. While the bulk of the material was retrieved from Quadrant D, it is notable that slag was found both inside and outside the area of the enclosure. In addition to the quantities of slag retrieved, two shallow furnace pits, located some 5m outside the wall spread in Quadrant C, were discovered. These finds, along with those of tuy`ere fragments and mould fragments, indicate the extent of industrial activity on site. The mould fragments recovered suggest that artefacts were being produced on site at Johnstown South.