House - Neolithic

The National Monuments Service's description

Located towards the outer edge of a shelf on a SW-facing slope of Lacken Hill. A rectangular Neolithic house (ext. dims 8.5m NW-SE; 6.25m NE-SW; int. dims. 6.75m NW-SE; 5.2m NE-SW) defined by fragments of slot-trenches, together with six pits and a segment of a ditch (Wth 2m; D 0.4m) were identified in centre-line testing (E4067) for the N25 New Ross by-pass during 2009. Three of the pits (diam. 0.4-1.2m; max. D 0.2m) were within the house (Doyle et al. 2010, 39-40).
It was set aside for resolution as Ryleen 2 when full excavation (E4116) recorded the Neolithic house defined partly by post and wattle construction and partly by plank walls. It had a NE-SW internal division defined by slot-trenches that had a central opening (Wth 1.4m) between two post-holes that also supported the roof, but an entrance from the outside was not identified. There was no evidence of an internal hearth, although the structure was burnt down. Twelve pits (dims 0.08m; D 0.09m to 1.4m x 0.55m; D 0.25m) were in the vicinity of the house, largely to the SE and S (Hession 2010, 9-25). Other features, largely isolated pits, were found c. 20-60m to the W (ibid. 25-32). (Hession 2013)

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 24 September, 2013

References

Hession, J. 2013 Ryleen 2. Neolithic house and associated pits. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 2010: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 259-60, No. 816. Dublin. Wordwell.

Hession, J. 2010 New Ross bypass road scheme, Cappagh, Co. Kilkenney to Knockroe, Co. Wexford. Archaeological Services Contract, Stage (iii) – excavation, post-excavation assessment report for Ryleen 2 in the townland of Ryleen, Co. Wexford. Unpublished report, Headland Archaeology.

Doyle, L., Hackett, L., Hession, J., Marshall, M. Yates, D. and Bolger, T. 2010 N25 New Ross bypass road scheme, Cappagh, Co. Kilkenny to Knockroe, Co.Wexford. Archaeological services contract, Stage (1) – standard test excavation, wetland test excavation, townland boundary survey and architectural/built heritage survey. Test excavation report, under Ministerial Directions Number A52 (E4067) Unpublished report. Headland Archaeology Ltd.