2004:1704 - WOODSTOWN, Waterford

A desk-based assessment was undertaken in support of a planning application for permission to construct apartments, enterprise and research buildings, and a laboratory and related buildings on lands at Carriganore House, Woodstown, Co. Waterford. The proposed development site is located c. 4km east of Waterford city. It is c. 1km west of the zone of archaeological potential for a circular enclosure (SMR 9:675) and c. 500m north-west of a possible earthwork, SMR 9:678.

Eighteen test-trenches were excavated as part of the first phase of building. The testing identified the presence of six deposits of burnt material and two possible post-holes. The features were concentrated in three trenches. Three deposits and a post-hole were recorded in Trench 2. One was irregular in plan; its fill was charcoal-rich with oxidised clay at the edges. It measured 0.84m long and 0.1m deep. An oval feature, 0.9m long, 0.6m wide and 0.04m deep, was filled with charcoal-rich soil and oxidised clay. The third deposit measured 0.92m long, 0.56m wide and 0.1m deep. Its fill had frequent charcoal flecks and some oxidised clay. A possible post-hole was half-sectioned below this deposit. Its fill was loose mid-grey sandy clay.

Two charcoal-rich deposits were identified in Trench 6. One was irregular in plan, 0.94m long, 0.71m wide and 0.07m deep. The second feature was possibly a post-hole. It was circular, its diameter was 0.27m and it was 0.34m deep. A number of small stones were present at the base of the cut.

An oval-shaped burnt deposit and a shallow pit were recorded in Trench 8. The deposit was 0.8m long and 0.05m deep. Its fill was charcoal and burnt clay. The pit was 0.83m long, 0.54m wide and 0.14m deep. The fill was mid-grey silty clay. No artefacts were retrieved from this site.

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