2006:2000 - Waterford Main Drain Scheme, Counties Kilkenny/Waterford, Waterford

From February to July 2006 the construction of a new Waterford main drain was monitored north of the Suir. Most of the wayleave had already been stripped of topsoil, under archaeological supervision. In a remaining strip, along a steep slope beside the River Suir at Rathculliheen, irregular patches of scorched soil and charcoal probably represent land clearance (date unknown). The narrow cut through Abbey Road, east of the site of the former ‘Abbey Church’ (WA009–008), disturbed an earlier road surface and a roadside ditch, probably post-medieval. The present Church of Ireland church at Abbeylands, within a large subrectangular graveyard, was built in 1820.
On 4 September topsoil-stripping commenced on the main drain wayleave, south of the River Suir. On 6 September a burnt mound was exposed and a Bronze Age gold bracelet recovered, at Ballymaclode. The site was subsequently excavated (see No. 1968 above, 06E0990). A few isolated areas of burning were investigated on the wayleave, but no further burnt mounds were found.