Habitation 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 Ballycourcy More 2 (Hardy et al. 2010, 95-7). It is situated on a level landscape with a small S-N stream c. 120m to the E. The site was excavated (E4268) by D. Gallagher who uncovered the complex remains of a prehistoric settlement represented by numerous post and stake-holes, pits, two hearths and three slot-trenches in a confined area (dims c. 15m N-S; c. 15m E-W). There were possible outlying structures, and the features were cut by post-medieval furrows and drains. Two subcircular hut-sites (dims 5m x 3-4m: 5m x 4m) are identified in clusters of stake-holes, which may represent the repeated replacement of temporary structures and which could be middle Neolithic in date. There is a possible rectangular structure (dims 8m x 7m) with a central hearth nearby, and two other possible rectangular structures are in the vicinity. The fulacht fia (WX026-087----) is c. 145m to the NNE and the rectangular enclosure (WX026-057----) is c. 80m to the W. (Rajic and Hardy 2013; Gallagher 2013)

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 29 November, 2013

References

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 Unpublished.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).

Rajic, M. and Hardy, C. 2013 M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy scheme, Co. Wexford. E4268, Ballycourcy More 2. Stage (III) Post-excavation Assessment Report for Wexford County Council. Unpublished report, TVAS (Ireland).

Gallagher, D. 2013 Ballycourcy More 2. Middle Neolithic structures, pits, post- and stake-holes. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 2013: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 218, No. 690. Dublin. Wordwell.