Metalworking site

The National Monuments Service's description

Identified in centre-line testing (E4110) in advance of the M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy road scheme and set aside for resolution as Ballydawmore 2 (Hardy et al. 2010, 79-80). It is situated on a slight NW-facing slope with a small E-W stream c. 170m to the S. Full excavation (E4240) by Y. Whitty recorded a hook-shaped slot-trench (Wth 0.4-0.8m; max. D 0.27m), which formed a structure (int. dims 21m NE-SW; c. 15m NW-SE) but only the NW and SW sides are complete with a section (L c. 4m) of the SE side at the S end. There was a possible furnace in the form of a pit (dims 0.75m x 0.6m; D 0.42m) that was central to the SW end of the structure and contained charcoal and slag. There was a cluster of six stake-holes 1.4m to the N of this feature and a pit (dims 1.6m x 1.5m; D 0.41m) adjacent to the E contained slag and a worked stone that might be an anvil. The slot-trench produced slag as did most other features, including a pit (dims 1.1m x 1.05m; D 0.55m) outside the structure at NE. However, an oval pit (dims 4.1m N-S; 1.75 E-W; D 1.1m) 3m to the E of this pit produced only a struck flint, and this feature might be completely unrelated to the structure. The unrelated fulacht fia (WX020-111----) is c. 145m to the NNW and the ditch (WX020-110----) is c. 150m to the NW, while the hearth (WX020-113----) is c. 75m to the S. (Ruttle 2012; Whitty 2013)

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 28 November, 2013

References

Whitty, Y. 2013 Ballydawmore 2: metalworking site. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 2010: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 219-20, No. 694. Dublin. Wordwell.

Ruttle, E. 2012 M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy scheme, Co. Wexford, E4240, Ballydawmore 2. Stage (III) Post-excavation Assessment Report for Wexford County Council. Unpublished report, TVAS (Ireland).

Hardy, C., Nugent, L., Homan Reid, R; O'Liathain, N; Whitty, Y.; and Coleman, C. 2010 N11 Gorey to Enniscorthy scheme. Archaeological Consultancy Services, Stage (1)a. E4110. Testing report for Wexford County Council. Unpublished. TVAS (Ireland).