2025:123 - Deerpark, Outer Ring Road, Williamstown, Waterford, Waterford

Archaeological test-excavations were carried out on 8 May 2025, in relation to the construction of Phase 2A of a large multi-phase mixed housing development at Deerpark, Williamstown, Co. Waterford.

The subject site comprised a c. 1.27-hectare portion of a former greenfield area; which in recent years had been subjected to several phases of heavy ground disturbance and topsoil stripping.

The Zone of Notification (Zone ID: R133984) for a ringfort (WA017-121—-) and for a miscellaneous excavation (WA017-121001-) extends within the boundaries of the site.

Testing comprised the excavation of fifteen targeted test-trenches. The test-trenches were primarily focused on the footprint of the proposed development.

The development area had been subjected to extensive groundworks undertaken within the past few years, with the result that all of the topsoil and possibly some of the subsoil had already been removed throughout the site prior to archaeological assessment and testing. For this reason the excavated trenches were for the most part extremely shallow, i.e. less than 0.2m in depth, with excavated material comprising the residual subsoil overlying natural.

With the exception of a modern pit at the eastern end of Trench 13, and occasional modern services, there were no features within any of the excavated trenches. No archaeological finds, features or deposits were identified.