2009:848 - N25 NEW ROSS BYPASS ROAD SCHEME, Wexford

This bulletin summarises the results of test excavations, a townland boundary survey and an architectural/built heritage survey carried out in advance of the N25 New Ross bypass road scheme, which extends from Cappagh townland in Co. Kilkenny to Knockroe townland in Co. Wexford. Ministerial directions number A52 was issued for these works under the directorship of Liam Hackett, with the assistance of Lisa Doyle, James Hession and Sinead Marshall.
Thirteen townland boundaries intersect the route of the proposed New Ross bypass. Twelve of these boundaries were surveyed and, where possible, a single test-trench excavated across each one. TB1, the boundary between Jamestown and Forestalstown, was not surveyed as it lies within an area excluded from the 2009 phase of works; it is hoped to return there early in 2010 to complete the necessary test excavations and the townland boundary will be fully surveyed at this time.
The architectural/built heritage survey was carried out at four areas that contained sites of possible architectural/built heritage interest, which will be directly impacted on by the proposed bypass, as identified during the EIS. The field survey revealed that in three of these areas there were no standing remains of any structures or buildings. The sites identified included a double-arch rubble stone road bridge, the ruinous remains of a three-bay two-storey house and a junction known as Corcoran’s Crossroads.
Two specific areas within the road corridor were designated as wetland areas – Wetland Area 01, in Stokestown, and Wetland Area 02, in Landscape. Exploratory test-pits were excavated in Wetland Area 01; no testing was carried out at this time in Wetland Area 02 due to health and safety constraints. No archaeological deposits or features were revealed in Wetland Area 01, in Stokestown.
The route was divided into eight areas (Areas 1–8); Area 1 was not accessible for testing during the 2009 phase of works and it is intended to return there in 2010 to complete the test-excavation programme. A total of 26 archaeological sites were identified and include eight burnt mounds, seven charcoal-production sites, a possible Neolithic house and five possible cremation cemeteries (in three cases associated with ring-ditches). No sites were identified within Area 1, three sites were identified in Area 2 (Landscape 1–2; Stokestown 1), eight sites within Area 3 (Camlin 1–8), one site within Area 4 (Creakan Upper 1), three sites within Area 5 (Arnestown 1–5), three sites within Area 6 (Ryleen 1–3), two sites within Area 7 (Lacken 2–3) and six sites in Area 8 (Berkeley 1–3; Lacken 1; Rathgaroge 1–2).
The majority of the identified sites appear to be prehistoric in date, and point to evidence for a relic landscape of Neolithic to Bronze Age date. Later prehistoric and early historic activity does not appear to be as well represented in the assemblage of sites identified. However, full excavation and scientific dating of the sites will be required to confirm this.
There was a distinct absence of activity in the sections of the scheme peripheral to the defined wetland zones (Wetland Area 01 and Wetland Area 02); no potential archaeological sites or features were identified in the areas tested immediately adjacent to either wetland area. Seven burnt-mound sites were identified during testing and, although this is a classic site-type found in areas marginal to wetland and in wetlands, all were located in other areas of the scheme.

The results of test excavations within the wetland areas themselves have been inconclusive. Wetland Area 02 and parts of Wetland Area 01 were not safely accessible for testing during this phase of works. No archaeological features or deposits were identified within the test-pits excavated in Wetland Area 01; however, the original ground level at the base of the alluvial deposits could not be reached in any of the test-pits. No major stratigraphic differences were noted in the alluvial deposits. Further work will be necessary to properly assess the archaeological potential of these areas.
Burntmound sites
Seven potential burnt-mound sites have been identified during testing.
Evidence for burnt-mound activity was identified at a single location in Area 3 – Camlin 2. A number of different burnt spreads and possible pits or troughs were present in this area and could represent the remains of more than one burnt mound.
Two burnt-mound sites were located in close proximity to each other in Area 5 at Arnestown 2 and Arnestown 3. This may indicate that they form part of a cluster of burnt mounds and could potentially be contemporary in date.
Evidence for burnt-mound sites was identified at a single location in Area 6 (Ryleen 3). Given that a water source is important to the functioning of these site types, it is interesting to note that the burnt mound/fulachta fiadh site identified in Area 6 was located near minor streams; namely, those flowing on either side of the townland boundary between Ryleen and Ballymacar.
Evidence for burnt-mound sites was identified at three locations in Area 8 (Rathgaroge 1, Berkeley 1 and Berkeley 2). Given that a water source is important to the functioning of these site types, it is interesting to note that the burnt-mound/fulachta fiadh sites identified in Area 8 were all located near minor streams; Berkeley 1 and 2 and Rathgaroge 1 were less than 150m from streams identified at townland boundaries 11 (Berkeley/Knockroe) and 12 (Berkeley/Rathgaroge).
Settlement sites
Settlement evidence in the form of a possible Neolithic house was identified at a single location along Area 6 (site Ryleen 2 in Field 9). The site was located on the apex of a gentle south-eastern slope at an elevation of c. 90m OD and commanded a good view of the surrounding landscape. Dating was based on the type of pottery (carinated pottery characteristic of Early Neolithic activity) recovered from a foundation trench of the house. The rectangular structure was aligned west-north-west/east-southeast, measuring c. 7.2m by 4.5m. The ground plan of the structure is generally in keeping with the rectangular buildings recorded in the Early Neolithic period, which were generally of post and plank construction and were defined by slot-trench foundations.
A further Neolithic site identified within Area 6 (Ryleen 1, Field 2) consisted of six shallow pits. Neolithic pottery in the form of carinated ware was recovered from pit (005). However, the site lacked structural evidence or large concentrations of features and is best described as an isolated ephemeral site. It is also worth noting that the identified pits may have formed part of a larger or wider settlement which lies outside the CPO.
A possible D-shaped structure was identified at Stokestown 1, although the possible saddle quern identified at the site could suggest a prehistoric date; the unusual shape of the feature could equally suggest an early historic date.
Potential evidence for structures and features associated with Arnestown House were identified at Arnestown 1; it is possible that these may relate to gardens and structures illustrated on the first-edition OS map of the area.
The presence of pits and post-holes at Lacken 2 is possibly suggestive of settlement or domestic-type activities.
The cluster of seven pits (Lacken 1) of unknown date could possibly be charcoal-production pits. No finds were recovered from the identified features, which can be best described as ephemeral, as the site lacked any structural features and did not contain a large number of features. However, it is worth noting that the uncovered pits may have formed part of a wider settlement located outside the CPO. It is also worth noting that WX029–018 is located c. 150m east of Lacken 1.
The site identified in Creakan Upper 1 is of indeterminate date and function. The V-shaped profile of the ditch, however, is of some interest, as this shape is generally associated with ditches that have been hand-cut and do not conform to agricultural or drainage-type features. No definite time-frame can be ascribed to such ditches; further investigation is necessary to resolve this feature
Burial sites
There was evidence for potential funerary or ritual activity at five of the identified sites (Camlin 3–5, Berkeley 3, Rathgaroge 2). Preliminary evaluation of these sites suggests a general Bronze Age date for this activity (c. 2200–500 BC). The majority of Bronze Age cemeteries recorded in Ireland are small sites, with most containing only two or three graves, with cremation the most frequently recorded burial rite.
Three of the sites (Camlin 3–5) are clustered in close proximity and could form part of a single funerary landscape or dispersed cemetery (particularly as all three appear to have associated ring-ditches). The remaining two sites (Berkeley 3 and Rathgaroge 2), while also located in proximity to each other, are not as closely clustered.
Four of the five sites have potential flat cemetery activity. At Camlin 3 two pits were identified in association with a potential ring-ditch; one of these pits appears to have an in situ urned cremation. Camlin 4 was 150m east-north-east of Camlin 3 and was characterised by the presence of 32 possible cremation pits, again with an adjacent ring-ditch; this is potentially the largest of the four flat cemetery sites. Both these sites are located in Area 3.

Two further possible flat cemeteries were identified in Area 8 (Berkeley 3, Rathgaroge 2). The most striking of these two sites in Area 8 was the possible flat cemetery at Berkeley 3; the site consisted of seventeen subcircular pits where up to three possible cremations were identified. This unenclosed flat cemetery was situated at the base of a southwest/north-east break of slope. No finds were recovered. The secondary possible flat cemetery (Rathgaroge 2) consisted of seven sub-rounded pits, one of which contained fragments of burnt bone. No finds were recovered.
Potential ring-ditches have been identified at three sites (Camlin 3–5). At Camlin 3 and 4 these were associated with possible flat-cemetery activity. All three sites are in relative close proximity to each other and could form part of a dispersed cemetery. Studies of this monument type in counties Limerick and Cork support this interpretation of ring-ditches as cemetery features. Over 400 barrows or ring-ditches have been identified between Lough Gur in County Limerick and the Ballyhoura Mountains in north Cork with many of these occurring within extensive cemeteries.
Charcoal production
Charcoal-production pits are an increasingly common discovery, especially during archaeological investigations associated with large-scale infrastructure projects, and have been identified at Camlin 6–8, Landscape 1, Camlin 1 and Lacken 1. These sites can date from the prehistoric to post-medieval periods and are characterised by the presence of earth-cut pits with evidence for high temperature oxidation. Charcoal-production sites are commonly found close to or in conjunction with sites or features which are associated with charcoal consumption (primarily kilns and furnaces). Of the six charcoal production sites identified during testing, at least one (Landscape 2) is associated with a kiln.