County: Wexford Site name: Crane 3
Sites and Monuments Record No.: n/a Licence number: E004791
Author: Tim Coughlan, IAC Ltd
Site type: Single pit
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 701142m, N 643685m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.535114, -6.509152
Crane 3 was identified as a result of archaeological monitoring of ground works during the construction stage of the M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy PPP Scheme. Monitoring was carried out in 18 previously untested areas under Excavation Registration Number E004646 and Ministerial Direction A054. The area comprised rough pasture and is shown on the historic maps as an area of marshy marginal terrain to the west of a field boundary. No sites of archaeological significance were previously identified in proximity to Crane 3.
Crane 3 comprised a single sub-circular pit which measured 1.6m east–west by 1.3m and 0.2m in depth. The pit contained three fills, the lower of which included a quantity of charcoal suggesting a possible function as a charcoal clamp/charcoal-production pit. However, the irregular shape of the base of the pit and the large number of stones within the central fill may indicate a different function and it is possible the pit is a tree bole associated with land clearance. No diagnostic material was recovered during the excavation and the final interpretation of the pit function will require further post-excavation analysis and radiocarbon dating.
IAC Ltd, Unit G1, Network Enterprise Park, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow
