2019:055 - Rocksborough, Wexford

Testing took place on the site in three phases and most trenches targeted anomalies from the geophysical survey.
Phase One: Five trenches were excavated by machine across the site, totalling 350 linear metres. No archaeological features were noted.
Phase Two: Seven trenches were excavated. The remains of a levelled ringfort were identified in one of the trenches. This was an internal area level area (32m north-south) enclosed by a ditch (Wth 2.4m; Depth 1.1m), with evidence of a central structure (4.2m north-south) internally, defined by a slot trench at S (Wth varying from 0.25-0.5m) and a corresponding slot trench at north (Wth 0.2m). These enclosed a rectangular hearth (1.2m north-south by 0.75m), which contained fire-cracked stone and charcoal. A fragment of burnt animal bone was retrieved from the surface of this feature. There was also an area of stone and dark soil (1.2m north-south; east-west dimensions were unclear as it has been cut by a later cultivation furrow).
No archaeological features were noted in the other 6 trenches.
The anomalies identified in the geophysical survey were either patches of coarse gravel in the boulder clay/natural parent material, or cultivation furrows and relict field boundaries marked on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map. These were deemed to be not of archaeological interest.
Phase Three: Four trenches were excavated across the site. No archaeological features were noted in the trenches. The anomalies identified in the geophysical survey were either patches of coarse gravel in the boulder clay/natural parent material, or cultivation furrows and relict field boundaries marked on the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map. These were deemed to be not of archaeological interest.

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