2010:783 - Landscape 2, Wexford

Excavations at Landscape 2 were undertaken on behalf of Wexford County Council as part of the Stage (iii) archaeological services contract prior to the commencement of construction of the N25 New Ross bypass road scheme. Full excavation was undertaken at the site between 11 May and 18 June 2010 and four main areas of activity were identified, Landscape 2 A–D.
The preliminary evaluation of the findings of the excavation suggests that Landscape 2A consisted of a defined but not defended medieval rural settlement characterised by an enclosed space containing five structures The enclosed space was approximately subrectangular in plan, measuring 37m east–west by 25m, bounded on the south by a curvilinear ditch and to the north by a roughly east–west ditch which separated the site from an area of wetland to the north. All five structures were located within this defined space. The main structure (Structure 1) was a rectangular building of sill beam timber construction with probable thatch roof. The building appeared to be divided into two rooms, with a byre located on the eastern side of the structure. An adjacent barn (Structure 2) of possible mud-wall construction and thatch roof was located to the south of Structure 1, with a circular anomaly, Structure 3, located to the west of the abovementioned structures. A second rectangular structure, Structure 4, was identified to the east of Structure 1. Similar in size to Structure 1, Structure 4 was also likely to be of sill beam timber construction with probable thatch roof. A small rectangular annexe was identified to the south of Structure 4, which was interpreted as a possible byre or sty. Structure 5, a possible animal enclosure, was identified to the east of Structure 4. Medieval pottery provisionally identified as Leinster cooking ware and local Wexford-type ware were recovered from all of the above features. Possible earlier activity in this area was represented by a series of small pits containing burnt stone possibly associated with burnt-mound activity, such as that identified 100m to the north at Camlin 2 (see No. 724 above).
Landscape 2B revealed the remains of a possible prehistoric pit and several small pits and linear features that seemed to relate to medieval or post-medieval activity.
Landscape 2C revealed the remains of a north–south-oriented field boundary which is present on the first-edition OS map (sheet 34).
Landscape 2D contained three pits and a slot-trench which are likely to be prehistoric in date. One sherd of what appeared to be prehistoric pottery was recovered from one of these features. A charcoal-production pit which is likely to be related to the early medieval activity in Landscape 2A was also identified.