Speaker: Mr Fintan Walsh
Topic: Archaeological Excavations at Knockhouse
Date: Friday 21 October 2016
Venue: Granville Hotel, 8:00 pm
Admission: €5.00 (members free)
In 2014 and 2015 Fintan Walsh of IAC directed a series of
archaeological investigations at Knockhouse Lower in advance of industrial
development. The site, which is on the western outskirts of Waterford City, had
been tilled for many centuries and prior to the excavation no above-ground
monuments were visible. However, methodical and painstaking archaeological
excavation revealed the remains of an early medieval ringfort. Some evidence
was uncovered for the former existence of structures within the ringfort,
including two souterrains (underground storage or hiding places). The ringfort
was associated with a series of field boundary ditches which radiated from it
as well as a number of contemporary cereal drying kilns. Evidence for earlier
prehistoric activity was also uncovered, including Bronze Age fulachtaí fia
(burnt mounds) and settlement activity dating to both the Neolithic and Bronze
Age periods. Fintan’s illustrated lecture will give a comprehensive overview of
the results of the excavations at Knockhouse Lower.
