County: Wexford Site name: Carrick, Newtown
Sites and Monuments Record No.: WX037-028002- Licence number: 17E0318
Author: Denis Shine
Site type: Ringwork
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 701322m, N 623188m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.350910, -6.512716
In January of 2018 the Irish Archaeology Field School (IAFS) and Irish National Heritage Park (INHP) launched a major new archaeological research project – Digging the Lost Town of Carrig – in the townland of Newtown, Ferrycarrig, Co. Wexford. This project aims to assess one of the most historically significant sites in Ireland, the ‘Ferrycarrig Ringwork’ (WX037-028002-), which was founded in the winter of 1169 by Robert FitzStephen. The site is of national importance as it represents the very first wave of Norman colonisation of the country, being constructed the year before the main Norman landing party at Baginbun. A stone castle and medieval borough developed close to (or on) the site of the ringwork in the 13th century. Today the site is located at the western limit of the INHP – a stunning backdrop consisting of a 14-ha outdoor museum that depicts 9000 years of re-created Irish history within natural forestry and wet woodlands.
The project will comprise:
a) a major research dig, which will aim to clarify the form, function and date of the ringwork, as well as that of the castle and settlement that subsequently developed at the site;
b) drawing the archaeological site into the park in a creative and sustainable manner, in the process providing added economic and amenity value to the local community;
c) providing heritage engagement and education opportunities both to the local community, as well as domestic and international visitors.
Prior to commencing the IAFS excavation in 2018 excavations had been undertaken at the site of the ringwork on three different occasions in 1984, 1986/87 and 2015, by Isabel Bennett, Claire Cotter and Emmet Stafford respectively. The main agenda for the excavation and associated works in 2018 (which will continue in June-July) was to:
a) clear the site of vegetative overgrowth, to define the monument's full form;
b) re-expose the cuttings originally excavated by Claire Cotter before undertaking a selective programme of excavation and environmental sampling (leading to a programme of AMS dating) and
c) incorporate the dig into a full programme of historical and archaeological research.
A 'Carrick Committee' was also established to include leading scholars and archaeologists which will help guide the wider scope of the project, such as the creation of a Conservation and Management Plan.
To date, in the first season in January 2018, two of three internal cuttings, which were found to contain archaeological material in the 1980s (Cuttings 1 and 2), have been re-exposed, revealing evidence of possible 12th-century wooden structures as well as 13th-century masonry (radiometric dates are pending) The 1980s section through the earthen bank was also re-exposed. A range of medieval pottery including Leinster Cooking ware, Ham Green, Wexford-type cooking ware, Wexford-type coarse ware, Saintonge, Saintonge sgraffito, Bristol Redcliffe etc. was recovered.
This is a major ongoing research project, which has just begun; to follow its progress please see www.iafs.ie or follow IAFS on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/IrishArchaeologyFieldSchool/.
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