2002:1799 - KNOCKHOUSE UPPER/WOODSTOWN (N25 Waterford Bypass, Contract 1, Site 7), Waterford

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Waterford Site name: KNOCKHOUSE UPPER/WOODSTOWN (N25 Waterford Bypass, Contract 1, Site 7)

Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 02E0274

Author: Deirdre Murphy, ACS Ltd.

Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous

Period/Dating: Multi-period

ITM: E 655549m, N 612088m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.257702, -7.186331

The N25 Waterford Bypass project comprised an 18km route, and archaeological works were necessary before construction. Contract 1 of this project involved the stretch of road south of the River Suir as far as Kilmeadan in County Waterford. This contract relates to the investigation of known and potential archaeological features identified in previous surveys. Site 7 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 Woodstown and Knockhouse Upper, near Knockhouse stream, and the site extended from Chainage 7300 to 7900 along the proposed road corridor. An assessment was carried out that involved machine-assisted trial-trenching along the centre-line of the road, with offsets at 45° angles on alternate sides.

The site consisted of five fields, and trenching was restricted along Knockhouse stream, as this area was permanently waterlogged, and in Field 2, where the landowner refused permission for the excavation of offset trenches.

Assessment exposed numerous features across the entire five-field site, and these can be associated with different phases of activity. Close to the eastern boundary of Field 1 two pits and a fulacht spread, cut by later linear features that probably represent furrows, were evident. A linear ditch to the north of the fulacht spread in the same trench was confirmed to be an early field boundary marked on the 1842 edition OS 6-inch map. Farther west in the same field numerous features of 18th–19th-century date were identified and were related to a brick yard that is marked on the 1842 OS map. The features consisted of an extensive brick mound, two brick trackways and a regularly shaped, long, linear feature of 19th-century date. Two spreads were also identified in this area: one was of possible prehistoric date, as flint debitage was recovered nearby, and the second was of 17th-century date, as North Devon gravel-tempered ware was recovered from it. Features identified slightly to the east of this consisted of a pit, a post-hole and two spreads.

No archaeological features were revealed in the centre-line trench in Field 2, but features were identified in Field 3, to the north-east of the site. These consisted of a possible hearth or kiln and two charcoal spreads. All three features were a substantial distance from one another but may form part of a larger site. Four features were identified in the south-western part of Field 4: three pits/post-holes and a charcoal spread. They were relatively close to each other, between two offset trenches. No dating evidence for these features was recovered, but it is likely that they form part of a larger site. Three ditches, a charcoal spread and a post-hole were evident in two offset trenches in the eastern part of Field 5. These are most likely associated with the features identified in Field 4. Collectively these features are significant and may be the remains of prehistoric occupation in this area of the site. It is noteworthy that flint debitage was recovered from the topsoil in Field 4, in addition to the butt of a polished stone axe.

Further work will be necessary at this site to resolve all of the features encountered during this phase of testing.

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