2023:769 - Clonhasten & Drumgold, Wexford

Test trenching was carried out at Drumgold & Clonhasten, Co. Wexford,  as part of a pre-planning assessment. The site is located in the vicinity of Vinegar Hill at the periphery of the battlefield site, and of RMP WX020-033001- and SMRs WX020-033002- and WX020-033003- classified respectively as a rath, excavation miscellaneous (40 pits) and a burnt mound. There have been several reports concerning the site; WX020-033001- and WX020-033002- and WX020-033003- were identified during a testing programme carried out by Catherine McLoughlin for Stafford McLoughlin under licence 06E0118.

A total of 20 test trenches were excavated in areas not previously test trenched by Stafford Mc Loughlin Archaeology, 5 of which revealed archaeological deposits. A geophysical survey was carried out by Ger Dowling (Licence 22R0389) and the test trenches were located based upon the results of the geophysical survey.

The test trenching identified a prehistoric landscape which includes a dwelling, funerary site, pits containing burnt mound material, and a burnt mound.

In the most northerly field, where geophysical anomalies were detected, archaeology was uncovered, consisting of two small pits containing burnt mound material. There is a possibility of similar small pits existing in the southern boundary area of the site, adjacent to the road.

The southern part of the site yielded three areas of archaeological significance, prehistoric in date. The archaeology comprised a possible Bronze Age structure/house with associated features, identified through a fragment of pottery in one of the pits which was left in situ. The site encompasses a double row of post- and stake-holes, spanning at least 6m in diameter. The archaeological features to the north and south of the possible structure/dwelling encompass an area 20m north to south.

Approximately 50m northeast of the probable house, a ring-ditch with an approximate diameter of 5m was discovered which was visible on the geophysical survey. A potential arc of a second ring ditch, not visible in the geophysical survey, was also uncovered.

Further north, approximately 80m from the ring ditches, Trench 20 contained a burnt mound and an associated pit. The burnt mound had a visible length of 10m, and constraints imposed by overhead wires prevented further extension of the trench to the north and south.

A metal detection survey followed by test trenching was completed between 22 and 25 November 2023 (Licence 23E0829/23R0447). The metal has been x-rayed, conserved and a report have been completed confirming that all of the metal artefacts from Clonhasten/Drumgold which were recovered from topsoil (C1), appear to be related to domestic or agricultural activities. No military regalia was identified in the assemblage.

Dating is based on a combination of contextual information from this site and comparative material from other assemblages. All of the finds appear to be post-medieval in date.