Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

First identified by Linda Hegarty of Headland Archaeology in centre-line testing (03E1174) for the Waterford city outer ring road (Hegarty 2006a), and subsequently excavated (03E1755) by Caitríona Gleeson of Headland Archaeology (Gleeson 2006).
This is a circular area (int. diam. c. 30m) defined by a deep V-shaped fosse (Wth of top 2m; D 2m), which may have had an outer bank as the fill appeared to have been tipped in from the exterior. The perimeter was truncated by a NW-SE field bank at W, and there was a causeway entrance (Wth 3m) at SE. Charcoal from the base of the fosse at W produced a C14 determination of cal. AD 977-1037. In the interior were the truncated remains of post-holes and pits. Artefacts recovered include prehistoric pottery, iron artefacts and iron slag, and medieval pottery. Evidence of prehistoric activity in the form of post-holes and a possible cremation pit (WA017-121001-) were recovered c. 20m W of the enclosure. (Gleeson 2006; 2010)

Gleeson, C. (2006) Williamstown. Prehistoric. in I. Bennett (Ed.) Excavations 2003: summary accounts of excavations in Ireland, 516-17, No. 1944. Wordwell. Bray.
Gleeson, C. (2010) A ringfort and nearby area of prehistoric activity, Williamstown, Co. Waterford: report on an archaeological excavation undertaken prior to the construction of the R710 Waterford outer relief road. Decies, No. 66, 1-34.
Hegarty, L. (2006a) Waterford outer ring road: pits, stake-holes, ditches. in I. Bennett (Ed.) Excavations 2003: summary accounts of excavations in Ireland, 509, No. 1921. Wordwell. Bray.

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 31 December 2010