2024:345 - The Church Field, St Margaret's, Lady’s Island, Wexford

Pre-development excavation took place of archaeological features in advance of the erection of a new farmyard complex comprised of a cow shed, weaning shed and bale shed as well as ancillary farmyard structures and associated site works.

• Archaeological monitoring took place between 20 February and 1 March 2024. This culminated in the production of a report on findings on 8 March 2024 (Gregory & Kenny 2024). This was preceded by a desktop assessment and site inspections (Gregory 2024). Neither form of assessment gave any indication of the presence of archaeological remains.

During the archaeological monitoring phase, two areas of archaeological potential were uncovered. These consisted of:

1. an amorphous burnt spread composed of heat-shattered and fire-reddened stones with ashy deposits in the interstices. This spread is typically associated with burnt mound or pyrolithic technology and frequently associated with mid- to later prehistory.
2. A cluster of related features contained burnt deposits characterised by branch wood charcoal and cremated human bone. The most dense concentration of cremated human bone appears to have been marked with consistently sized beach cobbles. Most of the cobbles were of white quartz petrology.

The excavation was focused on recording the formation of, and extraction of maximum data from two sublinear and three sub-circular features. This incorporated excavation and sampling. In the case of Feature 6, the sampling was 100% due to the dispersal of bone and charcoal throughout the fill. This total sample will be wet sieved by Ann Hanbidge to extract all organic deposits and separate inert soil from material with archaeological potential. The sieved organic samples will be sent to relevant specialists. Bone will be examined by osteo-archaeologist Patricia Lynch, charcoal samples will be analysed for wood species identification by Lorna O’Donnell. Charcoal will be analysed for C¹⁴ dating at the Chrono Centre, Queen’s University, Belfast. Lithic samples will be analysed by Cian Hogan.

AZ01 consisted of four potentially associated features that were within the footprint of the avenue to the main site at ITM 712428 607342:

F3 – a shallow, sub-circular cremation pit (0.6m diameter and 0.1m depth) that contained charcoal and ashy deposits. There were no archaeological objects or bones present but a sample was retained for further specialist analysis. Filled by C4.

F4 – a shallow sub-circular pit that contained no archaeological material. Filled by C5.

F5 – a deeper linear cut that contained no archaeological material.

F6 – a linear feature with a similar depth containing burnt human bone, charcoal, ash and quartz cobbles. Filled by C10 and C11.

The second area (AZ02) consisted of heat-affected and heat-shattered sandstone and shale stones intermingled with ashy deposits at ITM 712552 607396. This area was waterlogged when opened initially but when water levels subsided, the burnt material remained waterlogged. This almost certainly represents an area of pyrolithic technology or burnt mound activity or fulacht fiadh. The extent of the feature is not known. There are two separate areas containing pyrolithic materials and it is not yet clear if the burnt spreads are discrete features or connected to each other. AZ02 occurs within the footprint of the main yard of the new complex.

The archaeology of AZ01 has been resolved though it requires detailed review upon receipt of specialist analysis. It has been agreed that a buffer zone will be constructed around AZ02 with no construction work or excavation of any kind within that buffer zone. It is understood that the developer plans to create a wild flower meadow in this area and there are no objections to this provided that there is no excavation or mixing of imported soils or manures etc. into the topsoil.

The project is currently awaiting the results of technical analysis.