County: Carlow Site name: BAUNOGEPHLURE
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 05E0452
Author: Emmet Stafford, Stafford McLoughlin Archaeology
Site type: Ringfort - rath and Moated site
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 681433m, N 676938m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.837233, -6.791363
Testing of the site was undertaken in response to planning conditions. The development is a new hotel situated within the grounds of an existing golf course. Testing, undertaken c. 150m to the south of the site of Killerig Castle, SMR 8:10, revealed a large 5.3m-wide ditch enclosing a rectangular area. This was thought to be the remains of a moated site. As the site was to be impacted upon by the construction of the hotel, excavation was recommended and subsequently carried out.
The excavation was undertaken in the footprint of the hotel and encompassed only a portion of the moated site. The remainder is preserved in situ beneath the surrounding golf course.
The excavation also revealed the remains of a ring-ditch, which was cut by the moated site ditch, and a trivallate ringfort. The moated site ditch cut the outer of the ringfort ditches.
The ring-ditch measured 10.5m in diameter, with a 1m-wide entrance on the western side. The ditch itself measured between 1.5 and 2m wide. Several intercutting pits were excavated in the interior of the feature.
As only a portion of the ringfort and moated site were excavated, it is not possible to state with any accuracy their overall sizes. The ringfort ditches measured 2–2.5m in width and were spaced 3.5–4.5m apart. Their fills contained considerable quantities of animal bone. The ditch of the moated site measured 5–6m in width.
Enterprise Centre, Milehouse Road, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford
