County: Waterford Site name: KILGROVAN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: WA031-045001- Licence number: 03E1743
Author: Avril Purcell, Sheila Lane & Associates
Site type: Ecclesiastical enclosure
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 630751m, N 593221m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.090054, -7.551254
The proposed development site at Kilgrovan, Dungarvan, is situated overlooking Clonea beach and includes a church site listed in the RMP, of which no visible trace remains. A geophysical survey was carried out on the church site over an area 100m by 120m. The results of the survey suggest a double-ditched subcircular enclosure, within which a number of anomalies were identified situated at the northern end of the site. Should development proceed, the area of the enclosure will be preserved in situ. A number of anomalies were also revealed outside the enclosure.
Twenty-one trenches were excavated across the site to calibrate the geophysical results and assess the remainder of the site. Those at the southern end revealed no features of archaeological significance. At the northern end of the site, trenches were excavated across the anomalies representing the enclosing features of the church site as well as the anomalies outside the enclosure. A number of trenches were excavated outside the area of the geophysical survey. Some of the geophysical anomalies highlighted proved difficult to identify on the ground, appearing to relate to subtle subsoil changes. However, several features of archaeological significance were identified, as well as features relating to land drainage and clearance. Several features of archaeological potential were also identified outside the area of the geophysical survey. Several pieces of struck flint were recovered from topsoil and subsoil throughout the site.
Three probable kilns were revealed in two trenches at the eastern end of the site. These were long, narrow, stone-lined features (ranging from 3.1 to 1.8m long and 0.5m wide, with charcoal-rich fill mixed with oxidised clay). Several sherds of pottery were revealed in the upper fill of one of these features, which have been identified as probable Bii ware of Early Christian date. At the western end of the site, a number of shallow features were revealed, which produced some pieces of struck flint and a very small possible sherd of prehistoric pottery. In several of the trenches surrounding the enclosure, features of archaeological potential were identified, but their precise nature could not be determined in the absence of full excavation.
AE House, Monahan Road, Cork
