2010:702 - Ballyellin 2, Wexford

Ballyellin 2 was identified during Stage (i) testing (see No. 700 above) within the footprint of the N11 Gorey north service area scheme, Co. Wexford. The Stage (iii) excavation work was undertaken between 12 and 20 August 2010.
Ballyellin 2 comprised two shallow gullies and six associated pits thought to date to the medieval period based on the identification of the pottery recovered from a number of the fills as Leinster cooking ware. Subsequent radiocarbon dating returned a date of cal. ad 1280–1400 for one of the gullies. The two shallow gullies, which formed a ‘J’ shape in plan, are likely to have been one feature or, if not, they were certainly closely associated. A later linear ditch truncated the gullies. The southern gully was oriented north-north-east/south-south-west and measured c. 20m in length and the northern gully was oriented east–west, turning north–south, and measured c. 10m in length. The gullies were on average 0.4m wide and 0.2m deep and their function is unclear. They do not appear to be an enclosing or structural feature, nor do they appear to serve any obvious drainage function.
Six pits of varying sizes were discovered dispersed across the site and, based on inclusions of medieval pottery, three of these can be said to have been associated with the gullies. One pit in the east of the site returned a date in the middle Bronze Age (1770–1610 cal. bc).