Ring-ditch

The National Monuments Service's description

On high ground in a commanding position. Situated within a ditched enclosure (KK024-117001-). Excavated in 2007 in advance of the N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford road improvement scheme (Licence no. E3681). A ring-ditch (diam. 16.65m; max. D 0.4m; av. Wth 1.3m) with an undug causeway at W (Wth 2.3m). 12 antler picks were carefully deposited at S and a small quantity of burnt bone and charcoal were recovered from the fill. Two post-medieval linear features crossed the ring-ditch NE-SW. Two slightly smaller ring-ditches (KK024-117004- and KK024-117005-) were excavated within the same enclosure and another ring-ditch (KK024-117002-) lies outside the excavated area and the roadway to the N. One of the ring-ditches (KK024-117004-) contained 5 inhumation burials and there were further burials within the larger enclosure. A fourth associated ring-ditch (KK024-117002-) (visible on an aerial photograph GB89.AP.25 taken in 1989) remains outside the area of excavation to the NW. (Whitty 2009; 2010, 248, no. 938)

Compiled by: Mary Tunney

Date of upload: 10 December 2013

References

Whitty, Y. 2010 AR096, Holdenstown. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 2007: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 248, no. 938. Bray. Wordwell.

Whitty, Y. 2009 Preliminary archaeological resolution report. N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford Scheme: Phase 4B - Rathclogh to Powerstown. Ministerial Direction: A032. Site name: AR096/AR097, Holdenstown 1. Registration No. E3681. Unpublished report submitted to the National Monuments Service, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dublin.