County: Wexford Site name: Nash
Sites and Monuments Record No.: WX035-049 Licence number: 13E0076
Author: Catherine McLoughlin
Site type: Church enclosure, medieval pottery
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 677676m, N 620381m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.329550, -6.860360
Testing was undertaken in response to planning conditions for the construction of a single dwelling house which is to be located in close proximity to church site WX035-049.
The excavation of a series of 11 test trenches uncovered the remains of archaeological features and deposits which, on the basis of pottery recovered, were backfilled in the 12th and 13th centuries. Three separate areas of pottery sherds were uncovered, with the pottery extending down into the features. A small amount of pottery was recovered from each of the areas for identification purposes, but the remainder was left in situ and covered with plastic finds bags to aid identification should the area ever be excavated.
A large amount of pottery was seen in a dense area of charcoal within the upper fill of curvilinear ditch C9. The charcoal may indicate the possibility of a kiln or similar feature at this site. The curvilinear ditch is likely to represent a ditch around the church site, which may indicate an Early Christian origin. Alternatively the ditch may represent a ringfort. Either way the pottery evidence shows the ditch to have been filled in the medieval period.
Stafford McLoughlin Archaeology, Coolballow, Drinagh, Wexford.
