EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Waterford
Woodstown 6, Co. Waterford
Hiberno-Scandinavian Longphort
Grid Ref: S55021127 (255022/111276)
SMR No: N/A
Excavation Licence: 02E0441 & C191 /E2964
Excavation Duration/Year: March-May 2003; August-September 2003; March-June
2004; March-May 2007
Site Director: I. Russell (Archaeological Consultancy Services & DoEHLG)
Woodstown 6, excavated in advance of the proposed N25 Waterford Bypass, revealed
evidence for a possible ninth/tenth century Scandinavian longphort associated with
considerable industrial, craftworking and mercantile activities. The site is situated close to the
point of confluence of the River Suir and an area of marshland containing Killoteran stream,
approximately 6 km south-west of Waterford city. The site was the subject of initial testing in
2003 with archaeological excavations undertaken in 2004 for the construction of a water
culvert. Subsequent excavations were undertaken in 2007 for the DoEHLG funded
Woodstown 6 Supplementary Research Project.
Excavations focused on two low-lying (7.97m OD) fields on the south banks of the Suir. Initial
testing was undertaken within the two fields in 2003 with further monitoring in 2004. A series
of small investigations were undertaken in 2007 in fulfillment of the Woodstown 6
Supplementary Research Project, carried out on behalf of the DoEHLG. The site was partially
trunctuated by cultivation activity and the construction of the nineteenth century Waterford-
Lismore-Dungarvan railway-line which ran along the south bank of the River Suir.
Prehistoric activity at the site was indicated by a number of disturbed flint artefacts including
a barbed and tanged arrowhead and a possible Bronze Age corn-drying kiln found outside the
early medieval enclosure in culvert one at the northern end of the site. The possible kiln or
oven represents at the site is one of the earliest of its kind in Ireland.
The possible Scandinavian longphort was bounded by the southeast bank of the River Suir
and two concentric ditches which appear to enclose a roughly D-shaped area (Fig. 295),
480m by 120m. A smaller D-shaped enclosure defined by a shallow ditch in the northern field
could also be contemporary with the main double-ditched enclosure. The chronological
developments of the two ditches of the main enclosure are not yet completely understood
though excavations indicate that they were consecutive rather than contemporary, with the
larger, outer ditch being cut after the inner shallower ditch was backfilled.
The precise length and extent of the ditches was not completely established. The northern
extent of the enclosure was trunctuated by the railway line and much of the southwestern
area of the site lay outside the proposed line of the road scheme. The line of the two ditches
was uncovered in the northeastern field close to the River Suir and geophysical survey has
identified that both extended southwestwards terminating in marshy ground around Killoteran
stream.
Excavation in advance of a culvert (1) at the northern end of the site revealed that the two
ditches had a complex stratigraphy with multiple fills and possible re-cuts. The earliest,
shallower ditch was associated with an internal bank covered with a pattern of stake-holes
which may possibly represent some form of palisade at its top. The ditch was trunctuated by
ploughing and the larger outer ditch was at least 2.2m wide and 0.6m deep.
The inner ditch remained open for a period of time as the bank appears to have slipped back
into it and also seems to have been re-cut at least once. The inner ditch was subsequently
backfilled and stake-holes were inserted into this fill to form a palisade for a larger ditch
which was uncovered immediately outside the line of the smaller, earlier one. The larger
outer ditch measured 3m wide and 1.3m deep at the culvert and was re-cut several times.
Away from the culvert (1) trench, the outer ditch was even wider- 4.1m wide and 1.2m deep.
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