Crannog (Site of)

Situated on the beach of Ardmore Bay. Originally it may have been in a salt marsh, but the sea may be eroding westwards around Ardmore Head, exposing it on the beach. It was discovered in 1879 by R.J. Ussher when the sea eroded a shingle bank (Anon. 1897, 154-5). It consisted of a double ring of oak piles (ext. diam. c. 30m) which were pointed at the base and embedded in peat. The outer row of stakes was closely set and the inner row showed evidence of wattling. The interior was composed of peat, the upper levels having eroded away, with numerous stakes and a possible circular hut (diam. c. 8m). Metal and wooden artefacts as well as animal bones were also recorded. Nothing of it survives. (Ussher and Kinahan 1888; Ussher 1895; 1903) Anon. (1879-82) Proceedings. JRSAI, vol. 15, 3-15, 53-6; 77-102, 153-160, 201-210; 261-75, 293-315, 341-8, 387-89, 441-54, 499-510, 561-70, 589-96, 631-41, 731-60. Ussher, R. J. (1895) The Ardmore crannoge, WAJ 1, 198-201. Ussher, R. J. (1903) The crannóg at Ardmore, County Waterford, JRSAI 33, 387-8. Ussher, R. J. and Kinahan, G. H. (1888) On a submarine crannóg discovered by R. J. Ussher, at Ardmore, Co. Waterford, PRIA 16C, 61-5. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Waterford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1999). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload/revision: 20 October 2011