2022:473 - NEWCASTLE: Main Street (Phase 2), Wicklow

Archaeological test trenching of the Phase 2 area was carried out on the site at Main Street, Newcastle, Co. Wicklow, following a geophysical survey (22R0231) that identified two monuments interpreted as ringditches (Anomalies 1a and 1b).

A total of 6 test trenches were excavated within the site. Each trench measured 1.8m in width, and in total, 319m of linear trenches were excavated. The test trenches were excavated down to the natural subsoil or top of archaeological features.

A mid-brown sandy clay topsoil and sod, with a combined depth of 0.32m to 0.4m, was taken down onto a natural orange stoney sandy clay natural. The larger ringditch, C5, corresponding with Anomaly 1b, and pit (C3) with burnt bone inclusions, were exposed.

A decision was made to excavate additional trenches to locate the other ringditch (Anomaly 1a). Despite the efforts, this was unsuccessful, likely due to the weather (dry and sunny spells) and difficult natural. It is, however, presumed that the monument exists, as its presence is very clear on the grayscale imagery of the geophysical survey. Furthermore, a number of linear features exposed corresponded with Anomalies 5; these represented north to south-aligned furrows measuring between 0.4–0.6m in width. No additional features were identified. A total of six flint artefacts was found, these were both from topsoil and the fill of ring-ditch C5.