2002:1798 - KNOCKHOUSE UPPER/KNOCKHOUSE LOWER/WOODSTOWN (N25 Waterford Bypass, Contract 1, Site B), Waterford

Testing was carried out on the proposed N25 realignment, of which Site B formed part. This site was identified following the environmental impact statement as an area of high archaeological potential after an examination of the topographical nature of the scheme. The area was in the townlands of Knockhouse Upper, Knockhouse Lower and Woodstown, along the banks of a stream, and potentially contained the remains of fulachta fiadh. The site extended from Chainage 400 to 1340 along the proposed western link road of the bypass. An assessment was carried out from 26 February to 11 March 2002. This involved machine-assisted trial-trenching along the centre-line of the road, with offsets at 45º angles at intervals of 30m on alternate sides.

Six fields were assessed. Small features, including pits, drains, ditches, furrows and charcoal spreads, were scattered over the entire site and were generally isolated. Two areas of more substantial archaeological activity were identified near the southern end of Field 1: a possible enclosure and a fulacht fiadh. In the southern area (Field 1) a possible ditch and bank were evident on the surface, and hence a topographical survey was undertaken. Testing in this area confirmed the presence of an east–west ditch close to Chainage 1250 in the centre-line trench. The ditch had steep sides and was filled with sterile, silty, sandy clay. An earth resistance survey was undertaken to establish the nature of the ditch and to determine whether it was archaeological or geological. Distinct areas of high resistance were identified by the survey, suggesting that the ditch is archaeological and may represent an enclosure. Most of this feature appeared to be outside the road corridor.

Directly south of the ditch, between Chainages 1265 and 1290, a fulacht spread was identified west of the centre-line trench. This site comprised two fulacht spreads and a variety of features including stake-holes and ditches. The southern spread was cut by two modern field drains and a shallow ditch; it measured 6m by 2.2m (at OD 15.39m). The spread to the north of this consisted of similar material; it measured 5.8m by 2.3m and was 0.15–0.2m deep. A row of four post-holes lay south-east of this spread; they measured 0.07–0.09m in diameter. The two spreads were 5.5m from Knockhouse stream, to the west of the site. Further spreads of shattered sandstone were identified in Field 1, and, although they do not appear to represent intact fulacht spreads, they may be indicative of further, undiscovered fulachta fiadh in this part of the site. Further archaeological work is required on this site.

Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth