Settlement cluster in Landscape

Located in the valley of a SE-NW stream with the stream c. 80m to the N, and c. 670m SSE of where it joins the N-S River Barrow/Nore. Centre-line testing (E4067) in advance of the N25 New Ross by-pass identified the settlement site (Doyle et al. 2010, vol. 1, 29), and it was fully excavated (E4108) as Landscape 2a by J. Hession in 2010 (Hession 2010; 2013). Six pits isolated at the SW of the excavated area (dims 60m ENE-WSW; 50m NNW-SSE) contained elements of burnt mound material and may be prehistoric in date and unconnected with the medieval settlement. The latter consisted of a rectangular area (dims 37m E-W; 25m N-S) defined by a ditch (Wth 0.95-1.7m; D 0.25-0.4m) at the S with curved corners at SE and SW. Five structures are associated with the enclosure but the adjacent parts of the ditch on the E and W sides abut and post-date structure 2, while structures 1, 3 and 5 extend outside the line of the ditch at E and W. An E-W ditch or field drain (Wth 2m; D 0.5m) with a metalled surface on the S edge separates the settlement from wet, low-lying ground to the N. The ceramic assemblage of over1400 sherds that included four lamps of the single cresset form would suggest a 12th or 13th century date. The collection consisted mostly of south Leinster ware and coarse Wexford wares, and was distinctly lacking in late medieval wares, suggesting that the settlement was abandoned before the 15th century. House 1 (int. dims. 12m E-W; 6m N-S) at the W is defined by a slot-trench on all sides except the E, which may have been a byre with a S-N drain. This is separated from the W end by a short slot-trench attached to the S wall. There are 8 structural internal post-holes located c. 1m from the walls and two central post-holes. Two external post-holes support the S wall. Two sunken areas with numerous stake-holes may relate to occupation, the W one with two hearths, and the E one probably used by animals. Structure 2 is 1-2m S of 1 and is a U-shaped area (int. dims c. 5m E-W; c. 8m N-S open to the N and defined by a shallow ditch (Wth 1m; D 0.15-0.17m), and perhaps a clay wall. It has few internal features and is thought to have functioned as a barn or storage area. Structure 3 was 2-3m W of structures 1 and 2 and is an oval area (int. dims 5m E-W; 4m N-S) defined by two elliptical ditches (Wth 0.7-12m; D 0.25-0.45m) to the N and S (ext. dims c. 8m E-W; c. 7.5m N-S) with crude openings between the N and S ditches at E (Wth 0.5m) and W (Wth 0.5m). It may have been a stand for a hay-rick (?). House 4 is 10m E of Structure 1 and similar in size (int. dims 16m N-S; 5m E-W), although it has no hearth. It is identified as a sunken floor, which may have been divided into two or more sections. A U-shaped trench around the S end may have had sill-beams and six structural post-holes are placed c. 1m inside it. A doorway (Wth 0.75m) is indicated by two post-holes in the W wall, and lines of stake-holes suggest internal screens. An annexe (int. dims 4.4m E-W; 2.9m N-S) defined by a U-shaped trench (Wth 0.7m; D 0.18m) is attached to the S and is contemporary with the house. Its rough entrance (Wth 1.1m) at the SW corner suggests its use by an animal. Structure 5 is 5m E of Structure 4 and is a rectangular area (dims c. 11m N-S; 8m E-W) defined by slot-trenches or gullies (Wth 0.3-0.4m; D 0.12-0.25m). It has few internal features and it may have functioned as a corral for animals. Three outlying excavation trenches produced isolated features, including pits some of which may be prehistoric or medieval and connected to the settlement, including one charcoal-prodition pit (WX034-086006-) c. 120m to the WSW.