2006:2111 - GOREY: Gorey Corporation Lands, Wexford

Testing by Shane Delaney (see No. 2110, Excavations 2006) was carried out at this site on 16 February 2006 and lasted for two days. 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 potential revealed during testing were fully excavated between 26 and 30 June 2006 on an extension to the previous testing licence.

Two separate areas were opened around the potential features in Area A. An area measuring c. 80m by 20m was opened around the three potential features recorded in Test-trenches 27 and 28. Another 10m by 10m area was opened around the curvilinear feature recorded in Trench 25, a curvilinear pit (C3) oriented north-north-east/south-south-west and measuring 3.68m in length by 1.4m by 0.3m deep which contained five fills. These fills varied in charcoal and ash content. Approximately 45m to the north of C3 was a circular pit (C9) measuring 0.68m (north–south) by 0.49m by 0.12m in depth. A sherd of pottery was recovered from a section excavated through C9 during the testing programme, but no further finds were recovered from its fills. Two other features in this area were excavated but were not of archaeological significance.

Two separate 20m by 20m areas were opened in Area B to investigate two small circular charcoal features identified during the testing programme. Neither of these features was deemed to be of archaeological significance and may represent the remains of field clearance burning. No other features were identified in either of the areas. A 20m by 20m area was opened around two potential features that were identified during testing in Area C. The first of these, C17, was a roughly subrectangular pit that measured 1.2m north–south by 0.66m by 0.1m maximum depth. Nothing to indicate a function or date for the pit was recovered. The second feature comprised a shallow hollow that measured 0.7m north–south by 0.5m by 0.1m deep and is believed to represent a variation in the natural subsoil.

In total, only three of the features excavated across the site area were deemed of archaeological significance. These were curvilinear pit C3, small circular pit C9, both in Area A, and subrectangular pit C17 in Area C. No specific date or function could be ascertained for any of these pits, but they indicate occupational activity on the site.

9 Albert Terrace, Meath Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow