County: Wexford Site name: Bessmount RPA 2
Sites and Monuments Record No.: n/a Licence number: E004863
Author: Tim Coughlan, IAC Ltd
Site type: Pit
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 693670m, N 641054m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.512809, -6.619995
A programme of archaeological testing was carried out at the site of a proposed rock processing area (RPA 2), contiguous with the lands acquired by Compulsory Purchase Order for construction of the M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy PPP Scheme by Wexford County Council. RPA 2 is located in the townland of Bessmount, Co. Wexford. This report follows a desktop assessment report carried out by IAC Ltd (Tobin 2017).
Test trenching was carried out between 13 and 16 May 2017. A total of 19 test trenches, measuring 1,617 linear metres, were excavated, equating to 12% of the available area. A single Archaeological Area was identified, comprising a single oval pit which has been designated as Bessmount 2.
Archaeological Area 1 (AA 1), located in the northern part of RPA 2, comprises of a single truncated pit, C4.1. Limited hand testing was carried out on the feature in order to assess its extent and nature. It was exposed 0.25m below the sod in T4 at ITM 693692, 641116. A single oval pit feature was noted c. 25m from the northern field boundary in the northern half of the field. The pit measures 1.75m east–west by 1.2m. It contains evidence for oxidisation around the edges of the cut, and contains a charcoal-rich fill. An additional trench (T4.1) was excavated to the north and south of this feature however no further archaeological remains were identified that may have been associated with it.
Unit G1 Network Enterprise Park, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow
