2010:706 - Ballygullen 4, Wexford

Ballygullen 4 was located on the proposed M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy scheme. This site was identified in a rectangular crop-planted field which slopes from the north-east to the south-west with a plateau in the middle. A completely displaced burnt mound, two ditches, two troughs, two pits and two modern linear features were identified at this site.
The remnants of burnt-mound material were visible in natural undulations and more modern linear features on the site. The deposits consisted mainly of compact grey/black silty clay which contained charcoal flecks and burnt stones.
A sub-oval-shaped trough measured 2.46m by 1.55m and was 0.4m deep with steep sides and a concave base. The lower fills of the trough were a mix of soft and compact mid-grey clayey silt representing evidence of reuse. The main fill was compact dark black sandy silt with frequent medium stones and frequent charcoal flecks, similar to that of the burnt-mound material.
A second oval trough measured 2.4m by 1.84m wide and was 0.51m deep. This trough had steep sides and a flat base and contained three fills. The primary fill was stiff light-grey silty sand mixed with small stone. The secondary fill comprised burnt-mound material. The tertiary fill was sterile soft grey silty sand.
A curvilinear ditch traversed the site in an east to west orientation from the north-east corner and then curved sharply in a northerly direction at the southern end of the site. This curvilinear ditch was characterised by a U-shaped profile and was filled with loose grey/brown clayey silt.
A second modern ditch, which was orientated south-west to north-east to a length of 26.5m, was 1.8m wide, had a maximum depth of 0.42m and truncated the burnt spread and the curvilinear ditch. This ditch also had a U-shaped profile, but contained burnt-spread material mixed with clay and was dark-orange/grey towards the base. The fill of this ditch yielded the single find of the site, which was a heavily encrusted and corroded ferrous sickle blade.