2006:2110 - GOREY: Gorey Corporation Lands, Wexford

Test-trenching commenced at the site on 16 February 2006 and lasted for two days. This was carried out using a 21-tonne excavator with a flat, toothless bucket.

In total 40 trenches were excavated within the test area, which measured c. 200m north-north-west/south-south-east by c. 100m. Three areas of archaeological interest were uncovered in six of the 40 trenches.

Area A was located in the north-east quadrant of the test area and consisted of four individual features spread over an area of c. 50m by 25m. The most substantial feature was located in Trench 25 and was curvilinear in plan. The fill consisted of a charcoal-rich sandy clay (0.5m wide by c. 3.5m long by 0.3m deep). Approximately 12m to the north, two more features were revealed within Trench 27. The smaller of the two contained a charcoal-rich fill, which also produced a sherd of coarse pottery that may have a prehistoric date. A further circular feature was located within Trench 28, c. 5m to the north. This was also characterised by a charcoal-rich fill.

Area B was located within the north-west quadrant of the test area, c. 10m to the south-west of Area A. This area consisted of two individual archaeological features spread over an area measuring c. 50m by 25m. Two possible post-holes or small pits were found within Trenches 15 and 17, c. 30m apart, both of which were characterised by charcoal-rich fills.

Area C was located in the south-east quadrant of the test area, c. 60m to the south-east of Area B. This area consisted of two individual archaeological features. The first was formed by a shallow cut and filled with a charcoal-rich soil. The base of the cut had also been subject to intense burning, as the natural subsoil has turned red. The second smaller feature was located c. 2m to the north-north-east. It is likely that further archaeological investigation of these features will take place later on in 2006 (see No. 2111, Excavations 2006).

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