2010:757 - Effernoge 2, Wexford

Effernoge 2 was located on the proposed M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy scheme. The site was situated in wet pasture, adjacent to a stream. An alluvial deposit was identified in the south-west corner of the site.
A possible trough was located in the south-west corner of the site, close to the stream. Due to the constant flooding, the size and shape of the feature was difficult to determine. This feature seems to have been aligned north-north-east to south-south-west and may extend into the stream beyond the limits of the excavation. Approximate measurements of 2m by 1.3m by 0.7m were recorded, with a rectangular shape, vertical sides and a flat base. The trough was filled with the aforementioned alluvial deposit and overlain with a burnt-stone deposit. Although this feature was interpreted as a possible trough, its location close to the river would have meant constant filling with fresh water, preventing boiling, and therefore not conducive to burnt-stone-generating activity. This feature may represent a failed attempt to create a trough. Approximately 0.3m north-east of the trough was a smaller pit, irregularly shaped with vertical sides and a flat base. The pit was 0.9m long (north-north-east to south-south-west), 0.6m wide and 0.45m deep. This feature may be associated with the trough and was filled and overlain with the same burnt-stone deposit that overlay the trough. A fire-spot, represented by an area of oxidised natural measuring 0.9m by 0.6m, was located north of the trough and pit and was also overlain by the same burnt-stone deposit.
A burnt-stone spread, consisting of a single deposit, overlay the above features and extended beyond the site boundary into the stream. This deposit was irregularly shaped, 8.8m long, 5.4m wide and 0.4m deep, and comprised moderately compacted dark black/brown charcoal-rich silty clay with burnt stone.
A probable palaeochannel, aligned north to south, was investigated at the southern edge of the site and appeared to extend into the stream. The palaeochannel measured 5.4m by 1.9m within the site and was filled with a firm, dark-red sandy clay with small burnt pebbles. A second area of oxidised natural or fire-spot was located at the southern edge of the site, south-east of the palaeochannel, and appeared to extend beyond the limit of excavation. This deposit measured 0.9m by 0.65m and consisted of a firm, dark-red sandy clay with small burnt pebbles. It is likely that this deposit is associated with a trough and burnt-stone-generation. Both the palaeochannel and fire-spot were overlain with a second burnt spread, consisting of a single deposit, similar to the first spread and measuring 5.4m by 1.9m.
Two more burnt-stone spreads, each consisting of a single deposit, were recorded at the north side of the site, north-east of the above features. The more southerly deposit measured 3.4m by 3.25m and was 0.03–0.04m deep, consisting of dark black/brown charcoal-rich silty clay with pockets of burnt stone. The other deposit was located at the north edge of the site and possibly extended north of the site beyond the limits of excavation. This deposit measured 5.17m (north-west to south-east) by 1.2m, was 0.02–0.07m deep and consisted of soft loose, charcoal-rich dark black to brown silty clay with burnt and decayed stone. These deposits may be associated and, together with the previously mentioned deposits, may have once formed a larger spread.
A second pit was located on higher ground close to and east of the more northerly burnt-stone deposit. This pit was roughly rectangular in plan, with steeply sloping sides and a slightly concave base. This pit was 0.65m long, 0.5m wide and 0.3m deep and was filled with a mid- to dark-grey stony clayey silt with frequent sub-angular stones with patches of charcoal-rich silty clay with burnt stone. It is likely that this pit is associated with a trough and burnt-stone generation.
Effernoge 1 (see No. 756 above), located approximately 250m north-east of Effernoge 2, consisted of a burnt-stone deposit, fire-spot and a palaeochannel, and is probably associated with Effernoge 2.