Archaeological Excavation Report E0474 - Dungeer, Co. Wexford, Ireland - EAP Journal

Eachtra Journal

Issue 4 [ISSN 2009-2237]

Archaeological Excavation Report
E0474 - Dungeer, Co. Wexford

Burnt mound

Final Excavation Report,
N25 Harristown to Rathsillagh Realignment,
Dungeer,
Co. Wexford.

December 2009

Client: Wexford County Council,
c/o Tramore House Road Design Office,
Tramore,
Co. Wexford

Licence No.: 00E0474
Licensee: Daniel Noonan
Written by: Daniel Noonan & Penny Johnston

Contact details:
The Forge,
Innishannon, Co. Cork.
Tel.: 021 470 16 16
Fax: 021 470 16 28
E-mail: info@eachtra.ie
Web Site: www.eachtra.ie

00E0474 Dungeer, Co. Wexford ISSUE 4: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237

Table of Contents

i Acknowledgements ............................................................................................ iv
1. Summary ............................................................................................................1
2. Introduction .......................................................................................................1
3. Description of Development ...............................................................................1
4. Background to the excavation area......................................................................1
5. Archaeological & Historical Background............................................................2
5.1 Mesolithic 7000-4000 BC............................................................................2
5.2 Neolithic 4000-2500 BC ..............................................................................2
5.3 Bronze Age 2500-500 BC.............................................................................3
5.4 Iron Age 500 BC-500 AD ............................................................................3
5.5 Early Medieval 500 AD-1169 AD ................................................................4
5.6 Later Medieval 1169 AD-1600 AD...............................................................4
5.7 Post-Medieval (after 1600 AD) ............................................................... 5

6. Site location and topography...............................................................................5
7. Results ................................................................................................................5
7.1 The Trough ..................................................................................................5
7.2 Stakeholes and Postholes around the Trough ................................................6
7.3 The Burnt Mound and Associated Spreads ...................................................6
7.4 Non-Archaeological Contexts .......................................................................7

8. Artefacts .............................................................................................................7
9. Environmental analysis .......................................................................................7
10. Discussion ..........................................................................................................7
11. Conclusions ........................................................................................................9
12. Bibliography ...................................................................................................... 10
13 Figures ............................................................................................................... 12
14 Plates ................................................................................................................. 17
15 Appendices ........................................................................................................ 19
15.1 Appendix 1 Context Register.......................................................................19
15.2 Appendix 2 Stratigraphic Matrix ................................................................23
15.3 Appendix 3 Radiocarbon dates ....................................................................24
15.4 Appendix 4: Charcoal assessment ...............................................................25
15.5 Appendix 5 Plant Remains ..........................................................................26

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List of Figures

Figure 1: Extract of Ordnance Survey Discovery series No. 77 showing the route of the new road
and the excavated sites.

Figure 2: Extract of Ordnance Survey First Edition showing the route of the new road and the exca
vated sites

Figure 3: Extract of Ordnance Survey RMP map sheet 36 showing the route of the new road and
the excavated sites

Figure 4: Route of the new road with the excavated site displayed

Figure 5: Plan of the excavated area at Dungeer, Co. Wexford (00E0474) showing the burnt mound
site

List of Plates

Plate 1: Post-excavation of the trough (C.46)
Plate 2: Pre-excavation of burnt mound material (C.12)

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i Acknowledgements
Project Manager: Michael Tierney
Licensee: Dan Noonan
Field Staff: Margôt Ryan, Gerry Breen, Gerry O’Neill, Tommy Desmond, Tom Jaynes,
Cathy Fisher, Carol Power, Karen Ward, Ronan O’ Donoghue.
Photography: Brian MacDomhnaill
Illustrations: Stuart Elder, John Lehane, Bernice Kelly, Brian MacDomhnaill, Enda O’ Ma-
hony, Robin Turk
Text: Daniel Noonan, Margôt Ryan, Tina Murphy, Antonia Doolan, Penny John-
ston, Stuart Elder

This project was funded by Wexford County Council.

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1. Summary

County Wexford
Townland Dungeer
Chainage 5220
Civil Parish Taghmon
Barony Shelmaliere West
National Grid Co-ordinates 290024 123445
Chainage 5200
Site Type Burnt mound
Excavation Licence Number 00E0474

2. Introduction
The Rathsillagh to Harristown Little N25 realignment scheme in Co. Wexford resulted in the discov-
ery of several archaeological sites and a burnt mound site was excavated in Dungeer townland under
licence number 00E0474. The site consisted of two concentrations of burnt mound material spread
over an area of 20 m2 and an off-centre trough that was possibly originally plank-lined.

3. Description of Development
The N25 is the main southern east to west route, traversing the counties of Cork, Waterford, Kilkenny
and Wexford. It links the port of Rosslare Harbour with Cork City, via New Ross, Waterford City,
Dungarvan and Youghal. A section of the N25 route between the townlands of Rathsillagh and Har-
ristown Little was selected for upgrading, as the old road comprised a single carriageway in either
direction, with several ‘blind’ junctions, and in many cases only a hedge separating farmland from
the road. The new route sought to straighten and level out the N25 and to provide a wider single car-
riageway with hard shoulder in either direction, in keeping with the Barntown scheme completed in
1998 (Figures 1-3).

4. Background to the excavation area
The 8.5 km route of the new road crosses a series of low, undulating hills, to the south of the old N25
route, and is situated at a height of between 45 m and 80m above sea level. The landscape here is
characterised by small hills, interspersed with many small streams; these eventually flow into the River
Corock to the southwest, into the Slaney to the northwest, as well as feeding into Ballyteige Bay to
the south. From its western beginning in Rathsillagh townland the routeway climbs gently, running
parallel and to the south of the old N25. It then continues through Assagart, Ballyvergin, Shanowle,
Camaross, Carrowreagh, Dungeer, Bricketstown and through into Harristown Little, eventually exit-
ing in Harristown Big townland and tying into the Barntown improvement.

The higher ground was lush pasture, well drained, and gave spectacular views all around. Sites on this

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part of the route included prehistoric settlement activity and a series of medieval kilns. Conversely,
the lower ground in Camaross, Carrowreagh and Dungeer was quite marshy and prone to growth of
gorse. Sites traditionally associated with low-lying ground were found in these townlands, for example
the burnt mound at Dungeer and a moated site at Carrowreagh.

5. Archaeological & Historical Background
There are thirteen recorded archaeological monument sites within 1 km either side of the development
(Figure 3); one is a church and graveyard site, nine are listed as enclosure sites of between 30 m and
60 m in diameter and three are moated sites (two of which are destroyed). The ecclesiastical site appar-
ently dates to the medieval period as there is a fragment of a medieval grave cover in the graveyard and
the site was originally surrounded by a circular bank (Moore 1996, 129). The enclosures most likely
represent the raths and ringforts of the early medieval period (Moore 1996, 28). Prior to these excava-
tions, the known archaeological remains in the locality were all medieval and post-medieval but sev-
eral prehistoric sites were identified during the course of this programme of excavation along the N25
route-way, including Neolithic material at Harristown Big, Bronze Age sites at Dungeer, Ballyvergin
and Harristown Big and Iron Age activity at two sites in Bricketstown (Figure 4)..

5.1 Mesolithic 7000-4000 BC
The earliest known human occupation of Ireland dates to the Mesolithic period (c. 7000-4000 BC).
Lithic scatters from the period have been found along the banks of the Barrow river in counties Wex-
ford and Waterford (Green and Zvelebil 1990). Some diagnostic Mesolithic stone artefacts were also
found in Camolin, in north Wexford, and along the eastern coastline between Carnsore and Kilm-
ichael point (Stout 1987, 3). However, most activity is identified in resource-rich locations by riversides
and coastlines and there is no known evidence for Mesolithic activity within the area affected by the
roadtake.

5.2 Neolithic 4000-2500 BC
There is piecemeal evidence for Neolithic occupation in County Wexford. Stout’s (1987) distribution
map of Neolithic remains includes evidence for one single burial site, fifteen find spots for flint and
stone atefacts, two portal tombs and seven other possible megalithic tombs. Work on the Archaeologi-
cal Survey of Ireland reduced the number of other possible megaliths from seven to five (Moore 1996).
Subsequent excavation work has increased the extent of knowledge concerning Neolithic settlement in
the county. Early Neolithic pottery was found by McLoughlin (2004) at Kerlogue (02E0606) and at a
pit and a hearth excavated under licence 00E0630 at Courtlands East (Purcell 2002). Later Neolithic
activity in the county is indicated by Sandhills ware, discovered during an excavation (02E0434) in a
pit at St. Vogues (Purcell 2004). An undated excavation at MacMurroughs (1985:59) also uncovered a
number of flints and a ground stone axe, associated with a hearth and pit may also be Neolithic in date
(Cotter 1986). Some evidence for Neolithic activity was found as part of this project at Harristown



Big (00E0424) where Neolithic pottery was discovered at a site where various pits and stakeholes were
excavated. Early Neolithic and possible Middle Neolithic wares were found.

5.3 Bronze Age 2500-500 BC
Some of the earliest Bronze Age finds from Co. Wexford are three chance finds of Beaker gold discs
(only one with a provenance). Other Bronze Age metal finds from the county includes hoards of both
Early and Late Bronze Age artefacts, e.g. at Cahore Point, a cave at Nash, Ballyvadden, Enniscorthy,
Forth Commons and New Ross (Stout 1987, 9-10, 22). At Ballyvadden the Late Bronze Age metal ob-
jects were found within a ceramic container, a unique feature in Irish hoards, but apparently common
on the continent during the period (Stout 1987, 22).

Burnt mounds are the most common Bronze Age site-types found in Ireland and sixty-three such sites
were identified in the Archaeological Inventory for the county (Moore 1996) and since the survey work
several have been excavated in the county; examples were found at Strandfield (McCarthy 2004) and
along the routes of the N30 (Enniscorthy to Clonroche) and the N11 (Arklow to Gorey) roads (www.
nra.ie). Only one definite burnt mound was excavated during works on the Rathsillagh-Harristown
realignment of the N25; this was found at Dungeer 00E0474. Another site at Ballyvergin (00E0473)
also probably represents the remains of a burnt mound site.

Much of our evidence for Bronze Age activity in Wexford to date has come from burials. There is a
recognised concentration of cist-type burials in Co. Wexford; these are commonly thought to date to
the Early Bronze Age. Stout (1987) identified more than thirty-seven identified but many were not
well documented and Moore (1996) could pinpoint the locations of only twenty-five cist and pit buri-
als in total. Several other burials with diagnostic Bronze Age pottery have since been found during
excavation: there was a cordoned urn burial at Ballintubbrid, vase urn burials at Coolnaboy, Gorey
Corporation Lands and Kilmurry, a cist with a tripartite bowl at Knockbrack and a ring ditch with
cremation burials at Ferns Lower (Bennett 2004-5). Another ring-ditch was found at Kerlogue Sites
4 and 5 and a large round house excavated at Kerlogue Site 2 was probably also of Bronze Age date
(McLoughlin 2004). The excavations from the Rathsillagh-Harristown road scheme included one
Early-Middle Bronze Age site at Ballyvergin where hot-stone technology was used in association with
metalworking. Another metalworking site was found at Harristown Big (00E0425) where a series of
Late Bronze Age metalworking pits and crucibles were found and the Late Bronze Age burnt mound
site at Dungeer (00E0474).

5.4 Iron Age 500 BC-500 AD
In common with much of Ireland there is very little evidence for Iron Age activity in Co. Wexford.
Hillforts and promontory forts have possible construction dates in the Late Bronze Age or Early Iron
Age and there are two hillforts and five promontory forts in the county (Moore 1996). The artefactual
evidence for this period in Wexford includes two pins that are of probable Iron Age date and two pos-
sible Iron Age stone heads recovered from Duncormick (Stout 1987, 29-30). Two of the sites excavated
along the route of the Rathsillagh-Harristown road produced Iron Age radiocarbon dates, both were



from Bricketstown and one was a small cremation cemetery (00E0623), the second was a small hearth
(00E0624).

5.5 Early Medieval 500 AD-1169 AD
The beginnings of Christianity are evident in the remains of seventeen early ecclesiastical sites in Co.
Wexford (Moore 1996). One of the earliest excavated examples from Co. Wexford was at St. Vogues,
at Carnsore, where a wooden church preceded a stone building (O’Kelly 1975). One of the closest
known early church sites to the roadtake is located approximately 2 km to the south at the church of
Poulmarl/Taghmon, the monastery founded by St. Munna in the seventh century. The list of abbots
from this site continues to the end of the tenth century and there is a record of a Viking raid in 917 AD
(Moore 1996, 160). By this time the Norse town of Weisford, later to become Wexford, was already
established, having been established by the end of the ninth century (Colfer 1990-1991).

Evidence for settlement in the county during the early medieval period comes from ringforts, typical
monuments of the period. These were circular or subcircular enclosures made from earthen banks that
surrounded areas roughly between 25 and 40 metres in diameter. Excavated examples have demon-
strated that they generally surrounded single farmstead-type settlement sites. One hundred and fifty-
three examples are known from the county (Moore 1996). Of these only two were located within close
proximity to the area of the new Rathsillagh-Harristown road (at Haystown, c. 3 km to the north of
the new road and at Cullenstown c. 2 km to the south). There are also numerous circular enclosure sites
that probably represent ringforts; thirteen of them appear on the RMP Sheet 36 (covering the area of
the new road-take) for Co. Wexford.

5.6 Later Medieval 1169 AD-1600 AD
The Anglo-Normans first landed in Ireland in Co. Wexford in 1169. The county was within their initial
land-grab zone between AD 1169 and AD 1190 (Mitchell & Ryan 1997, 305) and was sub-infeudated
in the early stages of Anglo-Norman activity in Ireland (Colfer 1987). Wexford county was one of the
first twelve counties created by the English Kings in the 12th to 13th centuries, from the original Prov-
inces and lesser Territories of the Irish Tuatha (Howarth 1911, 161). By the thirteenth century much of
the area covered by the Rathsillagh-Harristown road-take was a frontier zone and the archaeological
landscape of these areas is characterised by moated sites: there are ten known sites on RMP Sheet 36
for Co. Wexford, the area covered by the new road, and one moated site at Carrowreagh was found
along the line of the new road. Moated sites were distributed at the peripheries of the colonial organi-
sation centres and probably represent an attempt at secondary colonisation (O’Keeffe 2000, 73-75).
There are almost 130 moated sites known in County Wexford (Moore 1996, 95). However, by the end
of the fourteenth century, much of the Anglo-Norman settlement in Co. Wexford had retreated to a
southeastern stronghold in the baronies of Forth and Bargy, a pattern that Colfer (1987) suggests was
reminiscent of the “Pale of county Wexford”. Excavations of medieval sites in the county include the
remains of a medieval house were excavated at Ballyanne (Moran 2000), with pottery indicative of oc-



cupation in the 12th to 14th centuries, and excavations at Ferns, Hook Head, Newtown, Tintern, Tagh-
mon, New Ross and Wexford town all produced medieval archaeological remains (Bennett 2004-5).
Along the route of the Rathsillagh-Harristown road the moated site at Carrowreagh (excavated under
licence no. 00E0476) was the largest medieval site excavated. A spread of medieval occupation material
was also excavated at Bricketwtown (00E0476) and this was rich in the remains of medieval pottery.
It is also possible that the limekilns at Bricketstown (00E0476) and Harristown Little (00E0417) were
in use at the very end of the medieval period.

5.7 Post-Medieval (after 1600 AD)
A few excavations of post-medieval archaeological sites have been carried out in Wexford county, in-
cluding Brideswell Big, Duncannon Fort, and excavations in Wexford and Ennisorthy town (Bennett
2004-5). Some of the excavations from the Rathsillagh to Harristown road scheme were probably used
during this time, in particular the limekilns at Bricketstown (00E0476, 00E0626) and Harristown
Little (00E0417) were probably in use at this period. There is Jacobean house site in Dungeer, one of
the townlands affected by the roadtake. References to the house/castle date to the early seventeenth
century (Moore 1996).

6. Site location and topography
The burnt mound at Dungeer was located at the bottom of a hill that sloped gently from west to east. A
small stream ran roughly north to south approximately 12 m west of the site. The surrounding ground
was used for pasture rather than arable agriculture, as it was wet and prone to flooding.

7. Results
Archaeological excavations in Dungeer townland revealed two concentrations of burnt mound mate-
rial to the northwest and south/southeast of a trough and a number of stakeholes and postholes. A total
of 47 excavated contexts were recorded within an excavated area of 70 m2. The details of each context
and full contextual descriptions are provided in Appendix 1 while their inter-relationships are provided
in the stratigraphic matrix in Appendix 2.

7.1 The Trough
The trough (C.46) was earth cut and sub-rectangular in plan (Plate 1). It measured 1.8 m in length by
1.54 m in width, with a depth of 0.28 m and contained eight fills (C.14, C.17, C.19, C.30, C.31, C.32,
C.44 and C.45) as well as the cuts and fills of two driven posts (C.42 and C.47) (Figure 5).

It is likely that some form of inner support was necessary in the trough as it was cut into soft, wet
ground that may have been prone to collapse. There is a possibility that it was originally plank-lined
and ephemeral plank-like traces in the cut were noted during excavation, although this is tentative
evidence. The excavation of driven posts (C.42 measured 0.16 m in diameter and was 0.22 m deep



while C.47 was 0.26 m in diameter and 0.18 m deep) within the trough may also indicate support for
plank-lining.

Several small trough fills (C.30, C.31, C.32 and C.44) provided further potential evidence for trough
lining; these were small layers of clay-like deposits that probably acted either as clay lining of the
trough or layers of silting that accumulated around the original trough lining. Oak charcoal was dis-
covered in one of the trough fills (C.30) and this returned a Late Bronze Age radiocarbon date of cal
BC 800-740 and cal BC 710-530 (Beta 219129, see Appendix 3).

C.45 was the basal layer of the trough, a silty deposit (only 0.05 m deep) that accumulated gradually as
the trough was open or in use. There were charcoal inclusions in the deposit, indicating that it formed
when there was plenty of charcoal in the surrounding environment, probably after the use of the site.

The basal layer was overlain by two stone rich deposits with some charcoal staining (C.17 and C.19).
Their average depth was 0.15 m and they may represent the deliberate backfilling of the trough with
nearby burnt mound material. Alternatively these deposits could represent the remains from the last
use of the trough, the burnt stones that were never cleaned out as the site was not used again. Over
these stoney deposits, the upper fill (C.14) appeared to be a redeposited natural. It was 0.1 m in depth
and was possibly redeposited in the trough in order to level out the ground surface.

7.2 Stakeholes and Postholes around the Trough
The trough was surrounded by seven stakeholes (C.34, C.35, C.37, C.36, C.33, C.39, and C.41) which
cut the sub-soil. The majority were found to the west of the trough but they did not conform to any
particular plan. The stakeholes measured no more than 0.15 m in diameter and 0.25 m in depth and
the postholes measured no more than 0.30 m in diameter and 0.35 m in depth. There are now many
parallels where randomly patterned stakeholes have been excavated surrounding the troughs of burnt
mounds and there are several potential explanations for their existence: for example, supports for a
cover that was laid over the trough to preserve heat when it was in use for cooking/heating water,
or perhaps it was a screen to shield against wind, or the supports of various minor and insubstantial
structures associated with cooking or feasting at the site, similar to the examples illustrated in early
reconstruction experiments (O’Kelly 1954). C.33, a single posthole that was excavated in the area
around the trough (measuring 0.25 m in diameter and 0.29 m in depth) may also have formed part of
these temporary structures.

7.3 The Burnt Mound and Associated Spreads
The trough was surrounded to the west and south by very shallow burnt spreads that resembled burnt
mound material, i.e. charcoal enriched soil and burnt stone (Figure 5). This material was waste from
use of the site and was probably cleaned out of the trough in preparation for re-use. Three successive
layers of burnt mound material (C.3, C.9 and C.12, Plates 2 and 3) constitute the southern spread,
their combined dimensions suggest that it was approximately 3 m long, 1.2 m wide and was c. 0.18
m in depth. The western spread of burnt material was 4.4 m long, 1.9 m wide and had a maximum



depth of 0.04 m. It is possible that the burnt mound material was retrieved as two separate spreads
because they represent two separate phases of use, but it is more likely that the deposits connecting the
two areas were entirely removed from the site as in general the archaeological cut features and deposits
discovered at this site were extremely shallow, indicating truncation.

In addition to the two large spreads of burnt mound material there were some smaller deposits of char-
coal enriched soil and burnt stone (C.2, C.4, C.5, C.6, C.10 and C.13). These covered only a small
area and were very shallow (average depth 0.05 m); they possibly represented minor disturbances at the
site during which small amounts of burnt mound material were redeposited. Alternatively, it is possible
that these were the deposits at the very base of a heavily truncated burnt mound. Both suggestions
indicate that the archaeology has been heavily disturbed in the recent past due to agricultural or earth
moving activities.

7.4 Non-Archaeological Contexts
Several context numbers were assigned to the interface between the burnt mound material and the
natural sub-soil (e.g. C.7, C. 8, C.11 and C.16). The site was situated in a clayey area where the ground
cracks during dry spells; exposed charcoal fragments were evidently carried down the cracks and into
the natural when rain occurred. When excavating, the presence of charcoal can suggest that the inter-
face is actually an archaeological layer, but the material is not anthropogenic in origin.

8. Artefacts
No artefacts were retrieved from this site.

9. Environmental analysis
Seven bulk soil samples were taken from the site. These were examined for plant remains by Martha
Tierney but no macroplant material was recovered (Appendix 5). This is a common occurrence in
samples taken from burnt mound sites. The samples were also assessed for their charcoal content in ad-
vance of radiocarbon dating. The assessment was carried out by Mary Dillon (Appendix 4). Charcoal
was only present in four of the seven samples, and all of the material was from ring-porous wood. This
means that it was oak, ash or elm. In one of the samples (from C.44, a small trough fill) the charcoal
was not possible to identify any further because of poor quality preservation. The charcoal from the
remaining three samples was all identified as oak. This was taken from C.9, from the southern spread
of burnt mound material, C.18, a shallow spread and C.30, a trough fill.

10. Discussion
Burnt mounds are the most common Bronze Age sites found in Ireland. The characteristic site-type
is found in low-lying/damp ground and consists of a mound of charcoal-rich black sediment that is
packed with heat-shattered stones and forms a horseshoe-shape around a pit or trough that filled with



water. In many cases, however, all that survives to the present day are black spreads with fragments of
shattered stones visible in ploughed fields.

Traditionally these sites have been interpreted as ancient cooking places, where large stones were heated
in fires and then added to the water-filled trough: the extreme heat of the stones eventually heating the
water in the trough until it reached boiling point. It could be maintained at this heat by occasional ad-
ditions of hot stones. Archaeologists suggest that meat was covered in straw or a similar wrapping and
boiled within the trough. Experimental cooking at reconstructed sites such as Ballyvourney (O’Kelly
1954) have demonstrated that this could be achieved quite efficiently. However, the scarcity of animal
remains from most excavated burnt mounds (although there are some exceptions) has left the question
of function open to debate.

Other theories on their use include bathing and dyeing textiles together with the production of hot
water and steam for curative purposes and sweat houses (Ó Drisceoil 1988). All of these suggestions
are speculative as there is virtually no conclusive scientific evidence to prove or disprove theories about
how the sites were used. This may be partially because the sites that archaeologists describe as burnt
mounds were used for several different purposes. We recognise the sites archaeologically by the remains
of charcoal and heat shattered stones but as Ó Néill (2003/2004) points out, these are the remains of
a technology (the use of hot stones known as “pyrolithic technology”), rather than specific indications
of the end result of the process.

The Dungeer burnt mound was situated at the only area of low ground that was covered by this
scheme and this perhaps explains why there was only one definite example of these ubiquitous monu-
ments excavated during the course of this project. There are sixty-three burnt mounds (or “ fulachta
fiadh”) listed in the Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford (Moore 1996) but up to the year 2003
there were only three others recorded in the county (www.excavations.ie and Bennett 2003, 2004 and
2005), as well as a reference to ploughed-out burnt mounds recorded during testing (Stafford 2003).
Recent excavations in Co. Wexford along the route of the new Gorey-Arklow by-pass will augment the
numbers of excavated examples significantly.

The Dungeer burnt mound was severely truncated but despite this the remaining archaeology is in-
dicative of relatively simple use phases. The first phase was the construction of the trough; it was cut,
possibly lined with timber planks and clay, and posts were driven into the base in order to secure the
planks in place. The second phase was the use of the site; there is evidence that the trough was filled
with hot stones as part of the process of heating water, and there is possible evidence (stakeholes around
the trough) of spit cooking at the site. There were potentially several episodes of boiling; for example
there were three successive layers of upcast/waste from the trough in one portion of the burnt spread,
perhaps suggesting debris from three successive firings. There were two fills in the trough that resem-
bled burnt mound material; they may represent either the last use of the trough, or deliberate backfill-
ing with surrounding waste from earlier firings. The re-deposition of natural in the upper trough fill



(C.14) was possibly a ground-levelling operation which suggests a definite closing of the site.

The radiocarbon date from a trough fill at this site indicated a phase of use in the Late Bronze Age,
at c. 800-500 BC or c. 2540 BP radiocarbon years (for precise details see Appendix 3). Brindley and
Lanting (1990) first identified the majority of dates from burnt mound sites as falling between 3600
and 3000 BP radiocarbon years. Further work by Ó Néill (2003/4) has confirmed a peak in dates in
the Late Bronze Age, between 1000 and 800 BC. The Dungeer date is slightly later than this peak
but it is within an expected date range for burnt mounds and it indicates use towards the end of the
Bronze Age.

11. Conclusions
This site had evidence for both a trough cut and several spreads of burnt material. The shallow nature
of the archaeology suggested either that the site had little use or that intensive agricultural practices
have truncated most of what was once a more substantial burnt mound. The random scatter of stake
and postholes surrounding the trough has several parallels in recently excavated burnt mound sites
although there is no evidence that they formed a structure and they were not necessarily all in use at
the same time. The Late Bronze Age date from the site places it within the expected date range for this
site type.



12. Bibliography

Bennett, I. (ed.) 2003. Excavations 2001. Bray, Wordwell.



Bennett, I. 2004-5. ‘Archaeological Excavations in Co. Wexford’, Journal of the Wexford Historical
Society 20, 184-196.

Brindley, A.L. and Lanting, J.N. 1990 The dating of fulachta fiadh, pp. 55-56 in Buckley, V. (ed.)
Burnt Offerings. International contributions to burnt mound archaeology. Dublin, Wordwell.

Colfer, B. 1987. ‘Anglo-Norman Settlement in County Wexford’, pp. 65-101 in Whelan, K. (ed.)
Wexford History and Society. Interdisciplinary essays on the history of an Irish county. Dublin,
Geography Publications.

Colfer, B. 1990-1991. ‘Medieval Wexford’, Journal of the Wexford Historical Society 13, 4-29.

Cotter, C. 1986. ‘MacMurroughs, Co. Wexford’, in Cotter, C. (ed.) Excavations 1985. Dublin, Irish
Academic Publication for Organisation of Irish Archaeologists.

Green, S. W. and Zvelebil, M. 1990. “The Mesolithic colonisation and agricultural transition of south-
east Ireland”, Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 56, 57-88.

Howarth, O.J.R. 1911. A Geography of Ireland. London, Oxford Geographies.

McCarthy, M. 2004. ‘Strandfield, Co. Wexford’, pp. 520-521 in Bennett, I. (ed.) Excavations 2002.
Bray, Wordwell.

McLoughlin, C. 2004. ‘Kerlogue’, pp.517-518 in Bennet, I. (ed.) Excavations 2002. Bray, Wordwell.

Mitchell, F. & Ryan, M. 1997. Reading the Irish Landscape. Dublin, Town House.

Moore, M.J. 1996. Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford. Dublin, Government Publications.

Moran, J. 2000 ‘Ballyanne, Co. Wexford’. in Bennett, I. (ed.) Excavations 1998. Bray, Wordwell.

O’Keefe, T. 2000. Medieval Ireland, An Archaeology. Stroud, Tempus.

O’Kelly, M.J. 1975. ‘Archaeological Survey and Excavation of St. Vogue’s Church, Enclosure and
Other Monuments st Carnsore, Co. Wexford’, Unpublished excavation report for the Electricity
Supply Board.



O’Kelly, M.J. 1954 ‘Excavations and experiments in Irish cooking places’, Journal of the Royal Society
of Antiquaries of Ireland 84, 105-156.

Ó Drisceoil, D. 1988 ‘Burnt mounds: cooking or bathing?’ Antiquity 62 (671-680).

Ó Néill, J. 2003/2004 ‘Lapidibus in igne calefactis coquebatur: The historical burnt mound “tradition”’,
Journal of Irish Archaeology XII & XIII, 79-86.

Purcell, J. 2004. ‘St. Vogue’s’, p.520 in Bennet, I. (ed.) Excavations 2002. Bray, Wordwell.

Purcell, A. 2002. ‘Courtlands East, Co. Wexford’, in Bennett, I. (ed.) Excavations 2000. Bray,
Wordwell.

Stafford, E. 2003. “N30 Realignment Moneytucker to Jamestown,” in Bennett, I. (ed.) Excavations
2001. Bray, Wordwell.

Stout, G. 1987. ‘Wexford in Prehistory 5000 B.C. to 300 A.D.’, pp.1-39 in Whelan, K. (ed.) Wexford
History and Society. Interdisciplinary essays on the history of an Irish county. Dublin, Geography
Publications.

Websites

www.excavations.ie accessed 21st October 2006

www.nra.ie/Archaeology/LeafletandPosterSeries accessed 21st October 2006

Maps reproduced under licence where appropriate Ordnance Survey Ireland Licence No. AU
0005603 © Government of Ireland



13 Figures

Figure 1: Discovery map showing the route of the N25 Rathsillagh to Harristown road

Figure 1: Extract of Ordnance Survey Discovery series No. 77 showing the route of the new road
and the excavated sites



2 km
00E0417

00E0425
00E0424

0
00E0476
00E0623

00E0624
00E0626

00E0625
00E0475
00E0474
00E0471

00E0473

New Archaeological Sites
Existing N25
New Road
Key:

Figure 2: Extract of Ordnance Survey First Edition showing the route of the new road and the
excavated sites



2 km
00E0417
21
20
D
TE

25

00E0425
IS
EL
18

D
19

00E0424

58
173131

52
24

00E0476
16

00E0623
23
67

00E0624
00E0625 64
00E0626

0
00E0475
00E0474
TE1531
D
LIS
DE

33
00E0471

D
TE
3232
IS
EL
D
14

00E0473
13

New Archaeological Sites
Existing N25
New Road
Key:

Figure 3: Extract of Ordnance Survey RMP map sheet 36 showing the route of the new road
and the excavated sites



Figure 4: Route of new road with all excavated sites displayed
500m
0m



Figure 5: Plan of the excavated area at Dungeer, Co. Wexford (00E0474) showing the burnt
mound site



14 Plates

Plate 1: Post-excavation of the trough (C.46)




15 Appendices
15.1 Appendix 1 Context Register
Context No. Dimensions (l x b x d) metres Description
2 1.4 m N-S x 0.4 m X 0.07 m Soft dark bluish grey silt with coarse angular pebbles and medium
in depth angular stones. Moderate flecks of charcoal present.
Spread of burnt stone and ashy silt located in the SW corner of GS 5.
3 2.70 m NE-SW x 1.40 m x Weakly cemented mid greyish brown sandy stones with occasional
0.05 m in depth flecks of mica and charcoal. Burnt spread that spreads across GS 2
and GS 3.
4 0.5 m NW-SE x 0.25 m x 0.05 Firm mid brown sandy silt with occasional medium and coarse angu-
m in depth lar pebbles.
Small spread of burnt mound material possibly related to C 2 and C
3.
5 2.17 m NE-SW x 1.7 m x 0.07 Firm mid blackish stony clayey silt with frequent fine and medium
m in depth pebbles. Moderate occurrences of small and medium stones.
Dump or spread associated with burnt mound material C 10.
6 0.32 m N-S x 0.22 m x 0.03 m Firm black sandy silt with occasional medium angular pebbles and
in depth moderate flecks of charcoal.
Spread of charcoal flecked sandy silt possibly related to the burnt
mound material C 10.
7 0.94 m N-S x 0.36 m x 0.05 m Firm mid orangish yellowish brown sandy silt with moderate fine,
in depth. medium and coarse pebbles and small stones. Moderate flecks of
charcoal were also evident.
Mixed layer that was heavily truncated and could possibly have been
re-deposited located in the SW corner of GS 5 abutted to the N and
E by C 8.
8 1.48 m N-S x 1.34 m x 0.06 m Hard dark mixed black grey clayey silt with moderate amounts of
in depth. fine, medium and coarse pebbles. Moderate small stones and fre-
quent charcoal flecks were also present.
Interface to the natural possibly formed by waterlogging.
9 3.20 m N-S x 1.20 m x 0.05 m Friable dark greyish black weakly cemented sandy stones with fre-
in depth. quent medium and large tones and moderate small pieces of charcoal.
Spread of burnt mound material close to C 3 and C 12.
10 0.89 m N-S x 0.56 m x 0.05 m Firm mid greyish black stony silt with occasional to moderate pebbles
in depth and occasional flecks of charcoal.
Deposit of stony charcoal silt located in the eastern side of GS 5.
11 2.10 m NE-SW x 1.26 m x Firm brownish grey stony clayey silt with frequent pebbles and
0.14 m in depth. stones. Sub-angular quartz stone with mica was also present.
Spread of redeposited material that may be associated with nearby
burning activity.
12 2.60 m N-S x 1.60 m x 0.08 m Friable dark brownish black stony material with moderate coarse
in depth. pebbles and small stones. Occasional small pieces of charcoal were
present.
Spread of burnt mound material in the SE corner of GS 2 and spread
into the W area of GS 3.
13 2.28 m N-S x 0.83 m x 0.05 m Firm brownish black silty stony clay with moderate amounts of peb-
in depth bles and frequent small and medium angular and sub-angular stones.
Moderate charcoal also present.
Burnt stony deposit, possibly the by-product of firing at the fulacht
fiadh Abutted to the E by C 10.
14 1.88 m NE-SW x 1.60 m x Firm light bluish grey stony clayey silt with small and medium stones
0.10 m in depth. and coarse pebbles.
Trough fill of C 46
15 4.40 m NW-SE x 1.90 m x Spread of fire fractured stones within mid grey sandy silt. Frequent
0.04 m in depth amounts of coarse angular pebbles and moderate small stones and
occasional medium stones. There were two stones on the southern
boundary that appeared to be unaffected by fire.
Spread of burnt stone located on the N edge of GS 8 and S of GS 11.



16 2.00 m x 1.40 m x 0.01 m in Firm dark black silty clay with moderate flecks of charcoal.
depth. Interface between a burnt spread and natural. Once removed tree
bowl with root channels was evident.
17 1.9 m NW-SE x 1.54 m in Stiff mid brownish black stony clayey silt with frequent fine medium
width and coarse pebbles. Frequent small and medium stones. Soil was
charcoal stained but no pieces of charcoal evident.
Burnt material filling the trough, C 46.
18 1.28 m NE-SW x 0.08 m Soft dark orangish black pebbly silt containing frequent angular and
NW-SE x 0.005 m in depth. sub-angular fine medium and coarse pebbles. Frequent flecks and
moderate small pieces of charcoal.
Shallow spread south of C 46. Burnt stones were by-product of the
fulacht fiadh. Context may have resulted from a thorough cleanout
of the trough.
19 0.70 m N-S x 0.42 m x 0.20 m Firm orangish yellowish bluish clayey silt with moderate medium
in depth stones.
Trough fill of C. 46.
20 0.68 m N-S x 0.44 m x 0.07 m Firm orangish black silty clay with fine, medium and coarse angular
in depth and sub-angular pebbles. Frequent flecks and small pieces of char-
coal.
First thought to be a posthole but upon excavation appeared to be a
plank used to seal the trough.
21 0.26 m in diameter and 0.18 Firm mid orangish black clayey silt with occasional medium peb-
m in depth. bles and occasional small stones. Moderate flecks and small pieces
of charcoal were also present. Much of this context may have been
removed, as the eastern side of the cut was gone. As a result its true
dimensions are unclear.
Fill of driven posthole (Cut C.47) located in the NW corner of the
trough.
22 0.72 m E-W x 0.30 m N-S x Hard dark orangish black silty clay with angular and sub-angular
approximately 0.02 m in depth fine medium and coarse pebbles. Moderate flecks and small pieces of
charcoal.
First thought to be a posthole but upon excavation appeared to be
brushwood laid on the floor to seal the trough. Overlay C.45
23 0.41 m x 0.36 m x 0.04 m in Soft black clayey silt with frequent small pieces of charcoal.
depth Burnt spread
25 0.11 m N-S x 0.09 m and 0.12 Firm orange black silty clay with inclusions of fine medium and
m depth. coarse pebbles, small stones and flecks of charcoal.
Stakehole fill of C 34.
26 0.08 m N-S 0.09 m x 0.13 m Firm orange black silty clay with moderate fine, medium and coarse
in depth. pebbles and flecks of charcoal. Occasional small stones were also
evident.
Stakehole fill of C 35
27 0.08 m E-W x 0.05 m x 0.12 Firm mid brown clayey silt with moderate angular pebbles.
m in depth. Stakehole fill of C 37.
28 0.7 m in diameter x 0.12 m in Firm mid greyish brown clayey silt with moderate angular and sub-
depth angular stones.
Stakehole fill of C 36
29 0.25 m NW-SE x 0.24 m x Soft mid to dark blackish brown clayey silt with moderate fine and
0.29 m in depth. medium pebbles. Inclusions of small stones 30% of which were
burnt. Small flecks of charcoal were also evident.
Fill of driven post C 33.
30 0.52 m E-W x 0.10 m x 0.12 m Dark grey silty clay with moderate angular and sub-angular pebbles
in depth. and stones. Frequent flecks and pieces of charcoal were also present.
Grey charcoal rich ashy layer along part of the northern edge of the
trough. May also be a packing fill.
31 2.10 m x E-W x 0.90 m x 0.04 Stiff mid yellowish /brownish grey clay with frequent angular and
m in depth. sub-angular stones.
Packing layer along the western and southern edges of the trough cut
(C 46)



32 2.5 m NW-SE/1.3 m N-S x 2 Stiff to firm mid yellowish/brownish grey silty clay with frequent
m NE-SW/0.4 m E-W x 0.25 angular and sub-angular pebbles and stones. Lined the northern and
m in depth. eastern sides of the trough making it impossible to gain a continuous
measurement therefore two sets of dimensions are given.
Fill that appears to have been packed around the original sides of the
trough cut.
33 0.25 m NW-SE x 0.24 m x Circular in plan with a gradual break of slope at the top of the cut
0.29 m in depth. and imperceptible break of slope at the base. . N side was vertical and
stepped, south and east sides were moderate and the west side was
steep and smooth. Base was circular in plan and pointed in profile.
Driven post filled by C 29.
34 0.11 m N-S x 0.09 m and 0.12 Sub-circular in plan with rounded corners. There was a sharp break
m depth. of slope at the top and base of the cut. Sides were smooth and the
base tapered point in plan and profile.
Stakehole cut filled by C 25.
35 0.08 m N-S 0.09 m x 0.13 m Sub-circular in plan with rounded corners. Sharp break of slope
in depth. at the top and base of the cut. Sides were smooth and the base was
tapered point in plan and profile.
36 0.7 m in diameter x 0.12 m in Circular in plan with a sharp break of slope at the top of the cut and
depth imperceptible break of slope at the base. Sides were vertical and the
base was pointed in plan and profile. Possible truncated from above.
Stakehole filled by C. 28.
37 0.08 m E-W x 0.05 m x 0.12 Oval in plan with no corners. Sharp break of slope at the top of the
m in depth. cut and moderate break of slope at the base. Sides were vertical and
the base was circular pointed in plan and profile.
38 0.0895 m N-S x 0.10 m x 0.08 Firm black silty clay with moderate pebbles and occasional small
m in depth. stones and flecks of charcoal.
Stakehole fill of C 39.
39 0.0895 m N-S x 0.10 m x 0.08 Sub-circular in plan with rounded corners. Sharp break of slope at
m in depth. the top and base of the cut. The sides were smooth and the base was
tapered point in plan and profile.
40 0.12 m N-S x 0.08 m x 0.09 m Firm mid brown silty clay with occasional angular pebbles.
in depth. Stakehole fill of C 41.
41 0.12 m N-S x 0.08 m x 0.09 m Oval in plan with no corners. Sharp break of slope at the top of the
in depth. cut and imperceptible break of slope at the base. Sides were vertical.
Base Oval in plan and rounded in profile.
42 0.16 m x 0.16 m x 0.22 m in Circular in plan with rounded corners. Sharp break of slope at the
depth. top and base of the cut. Sides were moderate in slope and smooth in
plan. Base was circular in plan and tapered point in profile. Heavily
truncated.
Remains of a posthole.
43 0.20 m x 0.20 m x 0.24 m in Circular in plan with rounded corners. Sharp break of slope at the
depth top and base of the cut. Sides were moderate in slope and smooth in
plan. Base was circular in plan and tapered point in profile. Heavily
truncated.
Remains of a posthole.
44 1.44 m N-S x 0.70 m x 0.06 m Firm dark orangey black silty clay with frequent angular and sub-an-
in depth. gular pebbles and occasional small stones. Frequent flecks and small
pieces of charcoal were also present.
Possible remains of support planks along the eastern and part of the
northern edge of the trough.



45 1.52 m E-W x 1.08 m x 0.05 m Firm mid yellowish/brownish green sandy silt with frequent angular
in depth. and sub-angular pebbles. Frequent flecks and small pieces of charcoal
were also present.
Base layer of the trough with charcoal inclusions. May be the remains
of planks. Overlain by C.22.
46 1.80 m E-W x 1.54 m x 0.014 Sub-rectangular in plan with rounded corners. Sharp break of slope
m x 0.28 m in depth at the top and the base of the cut. All the sides were moderate and
smooth in shape. Base was sub-rectangular in plan and flat in profile.
Filled by Contexts 19, 29-32, 44 and 45.
Construction cut of the trough that appeared to be lined with planks
which were supported by posts, stakes and packing fill. The planks
were burned at some stage and all that remains is charcoal.
47 0.28 m in diameter and 0.18 Circular in plan with a sharp break of slope at the top and impercep-
m in depth. tible break of slope at the base of the cut. Only two sides remaining
the NW and SW sides were steep in slope and concave in shape.
Filled by C 21.
The cut of a driven post within the trough cut C 46.



15.2 Appendix 2 Stratigraphic Matrix

43
42
40

41

32

44
29

33
28

36

30

45

46
27

37

22

23
14

17

21

47

31
19

20
25

35
26

34

Natural
Topsoil

38

39

18
15
7

10

13
6

11
5
4

12

16
3

9
2

8



15.3 Appendix 3 Radiocarbon dates

Appendix 3: Table of Radiocarbon Results from Dungeer, Co. Wexford (00E0474)
Analysis by Beta Analytic Inc.

Lab 13C/12C Radiocarbon 2 Sigma
Context Sample Charcoal Period
code Ratio Age Calibration
Identification

Diffuse porous
cal BC
wood
800-740 Late
(Alnus/Salix/ Beta -25.7 2540 +/- 40
30 29 AND Bronze
Populus/Betula/ 219129 o/oo BP
cal BC Age
Corylus/Prunus/
710-530
Ilex/Pomoideae)



15.4 Appendix 4: Charcoal assessment
Dungeer, Co. Wexford (00E0474)
Charcoal assessed by Mary Dillon

Context Sample Charcoal
2 2 Absent
6 6 Absent
9 9 Oak (Quercus)
18 18 Oak (Quercus)
30 29 Oak (Quercus)
44 34 Oak/Ash/Elm (Quercus/Fraxinus/Ulmus)
45 35 Absent



15.5 Appendix 5 Plant Remains
Archaeobotanical Assessment Report on the Charred Plant remains from Dungeer,
Co. Wexford
Excavation Licence 00E0474
By Martha Tierney

Non-technical summary
The main aim of this assessment was to investigate the organic content of the soil samples collected
during the excavation in order to determine their potential for further analysis and whether they pro-
vide any evidence for the function of this site. No noteworthy plant remains were found but a fragment
of burnt bone was found amongst the heat-shattered stone layers..

Introduction
This report details the analysis of soil samples for charred plant remains taken during excavation in
the townland of Dungeer, Co. Wexford. The excavation revealed two concentrations of burnt mound
material, a trough and a number of related stakeholes and postholes. Soil samples from seven contexts
were analysed and no plant remains were found.

Methodology
The samples were collected on site as bulk soil samples. In the laboratory the sample volume, colour
and texture were recorded. The samples were processed using a simple flotation method, where each
sample was soaked in water to allow carbonised plant material to float; this ‘flot’ was then poured into
a stack of sieves (2 mm, 1 mm, 500 microns, 250 microns). When all of the carbonised material was
collected the flot was air-dried prior to storage.

The samples were scanned for organic content under a low-powered magnification and the organic
remains were recorded in terms of abundance.

Results of analysis
No plant remains were found in these samples. Contexts 2, 6, and 9 were composed of a mixture of
charcoal and heat-shattered stone. C. 6 contained one very small fragment of burnt bone.

Contexts 18, 30, 44 and 45 were associated with the trough and contained no noteworthy organic
remains.

Conclusions
No further analysis of these samples is required.



Table 1 List of notable sample contents
Context No. Sample No. Context type Charred plant content
2 2 layer of burnt stone and ashy silt none
6 6 charcoal flecked sandy silt related to the burnt none
mound material
9 9 burnt mound material none
18 18 possible trough clean-out layer none
30 29 trough fill none
44 34 trough fill none
45 35 basal layer of trough. none


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