2016:637 - ARENSTOWN (4), Wexford

The site was identified as a result of archaeological monitoring during the construction phase of the N25 New Ross Bypass PPP Scheme in October 2016 (Registration No. E004661). Monitoring followed from a series of previous investigations across the scheme and was specified for 13 previously untested areas (UTA).

Arnestown 4 was identified as a truncated spread of burnt mound material in UTA-18. The burnt mound is located in the corner of a reclaimed pasture field north of a stream. The area is shown on the historic OS maps as bordering a stream comprising marshy marginal terrain. Three prehistoric burnt mound sites were excavated at Arnestown 2 (E004111, WX034-098001–3) 210–370m south-west of the site during Stage (iii) Excavations. A small spread of redeposited burnt stone was also excavated to the immediate south-west of Arnestown 4 at Arnestown 3 (E004129, WX034-099).

The earliest features identified at Arnestown 4 comprised two pits and a curvilinear gully, which were sealed by a thin spread of burnt material derived from a heavily truncated burnt mound. The pits and gullies were cut into a subsoil deposit which may have filled a former palaeochannel. A thin silt layer was recorded sealing the burnt mound spread and three modern linear drains extended through the site.

Post-excavation analyses are ongoing although it is intended to date two elements from the excavation. No artefacts were recovered during the excavation at Arnestown 4.