County: Waterford Site name: Areas 6–8, 10–12 Knockhouse Lower
Sites and Monuments Record No.: WA009-003001 Licence number: 14E0325 ext.
Author: Fintan Walsh
Site type: Prehistoric pits, early medieval ditch
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 657500m, N 611650m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.253550, -7.157840
Excavation was undertaken in Archaeological Areas 6-8 and 10-12 identified during monitoring (14E0383) of site preparation earthworks in advance of construction of Phase 1 of an industrial development site.
The excavations followed on from a series of archaeological mitigation programmes which included a programme of testing undertaken in August 2014 by Brenda O’Meara of IAC Ltd under licence 14E0325. Testing followed from a series of previous investigations including geophysical survey, testing and excavation.
This testing identified five areas of archaeology (Archaeological Areas 1–5) which included a previously identified enclosure (WA009-003001) in Area 1. Phase 1 of the development necessitated the excavation of Archaeological Areas 3 and 4 and part of Archaeological Area 1 (the results of which are subject to a separate report). Areas 2, 5 and the remainder of Area 1 (including the enclosure) are within the Phase 2 of the development area.
The subsequent ground works were undertaken by Kirwan Civil Engineering Contractors and took place in accordance with Part 8 planning approval. The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht made a submission on the planning application which set out their requirement for archaeological monitoring of topsoil stripping and/or groundworks on those parts of the site that were not being archaeologically excavated in advance of construction under licence 14E0325 (Archaeological Areas 1 (part of); Area 3 and Area 4).
A total of seven additional areas (Areas 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12) of archaeology were identified during the monitoring (14E383). Area 9 (a burnt mound) was subsequently excavated under licence 14E0468 while the remaining areas were excavated under licence 14E0325 ext.
Areas 6, 7, 8, 10 and 11 all comprised isolated/dispersed charcoal-rich pits, some of which contained prehistoric pottery and lithics. Area 12 comprised isolated pits and a continuation of an early medieval field ditch previously identified and resolved during the excavation of Archaeological Area 1 under licence 14E0325.
Post-excavation analyses are ongoing.
IAC Ltd, Unit G1, Network Enterprise Park, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow
