Excavation

First identified by Linda Hegarty of Headland Archaeology in centre-line testing (03E1174) for the Waterford city outer ring road (Hegarty 2006, P 509, 1921), and subsequently excavated (031755) by Caitríona Gleeson of Headland Archaeology. Evidence of prehistoric activity in the form of post-holes and a possible cremation pit were recovered c. 20m W of the fosse of rath (WA017-121----). A C14 determination of 1929-1741 cal. BC, suggesting an Early Bronze Age date was recovered from a post-hole, but pottery from the same context is Mid - Late Bronze Age in character. The cremation pit (dims. 0.44 x 0.38m; D 0.24m) with human bone produced a date of 1873-1637 cal. BC, within the Early Bronze Age (Gleeson 2006; 2010, 8-10). Gleeson, C. (2006) Williamstown. Prehistoric. in I. Bennett (Ed.) Excavations 2003: summary accounts of excavations in Ireland, 516-17, No. 1944. Wordwell. Bray. Gleeson, C. (2010) A ringfort and nearby area of prehistoric activity, Williamstown, Co. Waterford: report on an archaeological excavation undertaken prior to the construction of the R710 Waterford outer relief road. Decies, No. 66, 1-34. Hegarty, L. (2006a) Waterford outer ring road: pits, stake-holes, ditches. in I. Bennett (Ed.) Excavations 2003: summary accounts of excavations in Ireland, 509, No. 1921. Wordwell. Bray. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 19 January 2011