County: Waterford Site name: KNOCKHOUSE LOWER (1)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 03E0415
Author: Linda Clarke, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
Site type: Habitation site, Burnt spread, Pit and Hearth
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 656264m, N 611250m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.250090, -7.176001
An excavation was carried out from 3 to 24 April 2003 at Knockhouse Lower 1, Knockhouse Lower, Co. Waterford, on behalf of Waterford City Council in advance of the construction of the new N25 Waterford Bypass. The project was funded by the Irish government and part funded by the European Union under the National Development Plan 2000–2006 and was administered through Waterford City Council.
This site was initially identified following the assessment phase of works carried out by Tara O'Neill (Excavations 2002, No. 1798, 02E0249). Three areas of potential were identified during assessment and were subsequently resolved under the resolution phase. Area 1 measured 50m by 60m, Area 2 measured 20m2 and Area 3 measured 25m by 40m. The remains of a ploughed-out and dispersed fulacht spread and associated features that included a hearth, pits, linear features, stake-holes and the remains of a timber trough were exposed within Area 1. The fulacht spread was disturbed by modern field drains. No features of archaeological significance were exposed within Area 2 and two pits and two small shallow linear features were exposed within Area 3. No finds were recovered from this site. Some surface expressions of possible ditches/banks were topographically surveyed in the eastern extent of the site during the assessment phase of works. These features turned out to be field drains. This entire field was disturbed by field drains.
Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth
