County: Wexford Site name: MARSHMEADOWS, New Ross
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 99E0276
Author: Donald Murphy, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
Site type: Standing stone
Period/Dating: Modern (AD 1750-AD 2000)
ITM: E 671063m, N 626467m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.385140, -6.956089
An assessment of a possible standing stone at Marshmeadows, New Ross, was carried out following the identification of three possible stones during a survey in connection with the proposed River Barrow Training and Dredging Works. Because only one of the stones was to be affected by the stripping of the area before the deposition of dredging material, a single cutting was opened in the vicinity of the third standing stone.
An area measuring 5m by 3.5m was opened, and a compacted layer of mortar and red brick was evident directly below the topsoil. The natural, sterile marl was uncovered below this at a depth of 0.3m, cut by the standing stone. The backfill was found to contain sherds of white-glazed earthenware, glass bottles, mortar and red brick fragments. It was clear, therefore, that the stone was probably inserted sometime in the 19th or 20th century, as a scratching post for cattle, and is not of archaeological significance.
15 Trinity Street, Drogheda, Co. Louth
