2010:814 - ROCKSPRING (1), Wexford

Rockspring 1 was located on the proposed M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy scheme. The site was recorded in a large pasture field which slopes down sharply to the south-east corner, with boundaries of earthen bank and hedge. The site was located in the south-eastern corner of the field in a waterlogged area.

Excavations revealed a possible stone-lined trough and two pits, contained within an area measuring 10m by 8m.

A large subrectangular trough, measuring 1.7m by 1.4m and 0.28m deep, had vertical sides and a moderately flat base which sloped down gently from west to east. The trough contained large rounded stones which appeared to line the sides. A concentration of black charcoal-rich silt at the base of the trough was sealed by grey clay silt with heat-affected stone. The base of the trough was cut by five stake-holes. Two pairs of stake-holes were identified at the western corners and a single stake-hole was located at the south-eastern corner.

A subcircular pit, which measured 1.1m diameter and was 0.13m deep, was located south-east of the trough. The bowl-shaped subcircular pit contained a single fill of grey clay silt with heat-affected stones. An oval-shaped pit located to the south-east measured 1.2m by 0.94m and was 0.35m deep with a similar fill.

Numerous north-east- to south-west-aligned post-medieval furrows and stone drains were identified in this field.