Flat cemetery

The National Monuments Service's description

This site was excavated (E3502) during 2005 as a part of a complex area know as Site 42-44 of the N11 Gorey to Arklow link. An extensive area (dims. 250m N-S 48-60m E-W) across the road-take was excavated, but geophysical survey indicates that activity extended outside this to the E, W and SW. Situated on the lower NW-facing slope of Ask Hill.
This is structure G in area A, a subrectangular concentration (dims c. 6m x c. 5m) of seven cremation pits (diam. c. 0.5m; D c. 0.2m) concentrated at the centre, surrounded by 19 post-holes, two pits and 21 stake-holes. The features were sealed with redeposited clay and charcoal-rich clays. Some outlying cremation pits produced lithics and some pottery. Lines of pits, sometimes doubled form the edges of the cemetery, with a slot-trench at the SW. Ring-ditch (WX076002-) is c. 8m to the WNW, and the pit-alignment (WX007-076006-) is c. 8m to the S. Stevens 2008a, 392; 2008, 12-17)

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 16 March, 2012

References

Stevens, P. 2008a Sites 42-44, Ask. Burial complex: standing stone, ring-ditch, penannular burial enclosure. in I. Bennett Excavations 2005. Summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 391-4, No. 1603. Wordwell. Dublin

Stevens, P. 2008 N11 Gorey to Arklow link: Archaeogical Resolution. Preliminary Report A003/020 E3502 Site 42-44, Ask townland, Co. Wexford. Unpublished report: V. J. Keeley Ltd.