County: Wexford Site name: KERLOGE
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 01E0047
Author: Stuart Elder, Eachtra Archaeological Projects
Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous
Period/Dating: Prehistoric (12700 BC-AD 400)
ITM: E 705127m, N 619251m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.314820, -6.458106
Monitoring of topsoil-stripping took place ahead of a new seven-unit business park at Kerloge, approximately five miles south of Wexford town. During initial stripping, a number of features were noted within the confines of unit 3, and three features within unit 2. Of these latter features one had the appearance of a cremation, as it was rich in charcoal and had numerous burnt bone inclusions visible on the surface. Further cleaning around the feature revealed the presence of other adjacent features. Careful cleaning of the immediate vicinity by mechanical excavator with toothless bucket was carried out. This revealed a penannular ditch feature with an outside diameter of 14.4m and an inside diameter of 13.8m. The ditch itself was 0.55–0.6m wide, and had terminals 0.45–0.5m in diameter, spaced 4.1m apart. This gap in the ditch was on the eastern side. The cluster of features containing the possible cremation lay towards the centre of the ring-ditch, and initial cleaning yielded a single sherd of unglazed coarse earthenware and a trefoil flint tool, thought to represent a corer bit as opposed to an arrowhead. This central cluster comprised a 0.8m-diameter charcoal-rich feature, roughly centrally placed, with three associated features immediately adjacent, approximately 0.5m in diameter. Several other features are evident within a 2m radius of the central cluster.
In the confines of unit 2/3 a number of archaeological features were recorded. These included two parallel boundary ditches, a linear feature, a group of three pits, a possible post-hole and a group of post-hole/pit-type features. A high concentration of charcoal and a large amount of unworked flint were found on the site. A small thumbnail flint scraper was found on the surface, as were several sherds of Leinster Cooking Ware.
Stripping of units 4–7 revealed a large cluster of features within the site of unit 5, which included a second possible ring-ditch approximately 8.8m in diameter, and fourteen other pits and post-holes, including a 2.35m by 1.5m oval pit. This showed evidence of in situ burning, and was rich in charcoal inclusions.
Further cleaning of the sites was recommended in advance of full excavation.
Unit 2F, Dungarvan Business Park, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford
