Charcoal-making 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 Dunsinane 5 (Hardy et al. 2010, 132-3). It is situated on a fairly level landscape and was completely excavated (E4196) by D. Gallagher when a rectangular, flat-bottomed and fire-reddened pit (dims 4.73m N-S; 0.76m E-W; D 0.18m) was recorded with a primary fill of charcoal. Two oval pits (dims 0.76m x 0.56m; D 0.34m: 0.64m x 0.44m; D 0.18m) were c. 7m to the WNW and c. 5m to the NW respectively, and a concentration of four post-holes were c. 3-5m to the SE. Charcoal from the pit produced a C14 date of Cal. AD 671-775. The unrelated pits and post-holes (WX025-061----) are c. 130m to the NNE and the equally unconnected fulacht fia (WX025-063----) is c. 140m to the S in Templescoby townland. (Hardy and McNamara 2012; Gallagher 2013)

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 29 November, 2013

References

Hardy, C. and McNamara, M. 2012 M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy scheme, Co. Wexford. E4196, Dunsinane 5. Stage (IV) Final Excavation Report for Wexford County Council. Unpublished report, TVAS (Ireland).

Gallagher, D. 2013 Dunsinane 5. Charcoal-production pit, post-holes, pits and field ditch. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 2013: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 242-3, No. 754. Dublin. Wordwell.

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 Unpublished.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).