2010:690 - Ballycourcy More 2, Wexford

Ballycourcy More 2 was located on the proposed M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy scheme. The site was identified in a flat cropland field which is bordered to the south and east by trees and hedgerows and to the north and west by hedgerows, trees and a tributary of the Drumgold Stream.
Ballycourcy More 2 consisted of a cluster of post-holes, stake-holes and pits scattered across the site. Approximately 117 post-holes, 408 stake-holes, 76 pits, two hearths, three slot-trenches and a series of post-medieval drains and field ditches were recorded.
Due to the large quantity of post- and stake-holes, several possible structures are indicated. Two small semicircular hut sites are depicted by a series of stake-holes. Hut 1 measured 5m north–south by 3–4m. The eastern side of the hut was truncated. Hut 2 was adjacent to Hut 1 to the south and measured 5m north–south by 4m. Hut 1 had an opening to the north-west and Hut 2 to the north-east. It is possible that these huts are of middle Neolithic date and were seasonal dwellings. To the east of Hut 2 was a possible square structure constructed of pits and post-holes that measured 7m north-west/south-east by 8m with an entrance to the south-east. At the northern end of the structure was a possible internal division orientated north–south that measured 2m by 1m and consisted of a slot-trench with three post-holes in the base. Within the interior of the structure was a series of stake-holes and a large hearth which contained several sherds of prehistoric pottery. A number of stake-holes around the hearth may have functioned as a spit or as a windbreak.
Two possible additional structures were located at the southern end of the site. The first was orientated west-north-west/east-south-east with an entrance porch to the west-north-west. The eastern portion of the structure was beyond the limit of excavation. It measured 7m north–south by 7m and was delineated by a series of post- and stake-holes. The entrance was 2.3m long and 1m wide, with additional stake-holes, pits and a possible hearth within the interior. Hazelnut shells and flint were recovered from this structure. Approximately 2m to the west was another square structure delineated by post- and stake-holes. It was orientated north–south with an entrance porch to the north. The entrance measured 2.5m long and 1m wide and there were a series of post-holes within the interior which may have acted as roof supports and/or internal divisions. There was an oblong hearth located just outside the entrance of this structure.
A series of later field drains and ditches were also recorded traversing the site. A large quantity of flint and prehistoric pottery was recorded, indicating the site to be of a probable Neolithic date and of a domestic nature as indicated by the large numbers of pits, post-holes, stake-holes, hearths and possible structures.