Excavation - miscellaneous

The National Monuments Service's description

On an elevated position on a gentle SE sloping pasture within naturally outcropping hillocks of limestone. Excavated in 2007 in advance of the N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford road improvement scheme (Licence no. E3404). A subcircular feature (L 1.62m; Wth 1.2m; D 0.16m) with concave sides and a U-shaped base sealed by an oxidized layer of material may have functioned as a hearth. A total of 101 charcoal fragments were analysed from the fill. Although hearths filled with oak charcoal are known from the medieval period, results from prehistoric sites show that oak charcoal is almost invariably associated with funerary ritual, suggesting that the feature may be associated in some way with the flat cemetery (KK031-089----) c. 50m to the SE. An oval pit (L 0.9m; Wth 0.59m; D 0.24m) and an irregular pit (L 0.8m; Wth 0.6m; D 0.15m) were also recorded. (Monteith 2010a; Monteith 2010b, 237, no. 893; Monteith 2010c, 237, no. 894)

Compiled by: Mary Tunney

Date of upload: 13 November 2013

References

Monteith, J. 2010a N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford Scheme, Waterford to Knocktopher – Phase 2. Dunkitt to Knocktopher townlands. Final report. Scheme reference number: A032/000. Excavation Registration no. E3404. Townland: Coolmore. Unpublished report submitted to the National Monuments Service, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dublin.

Monteith, J. 2010b Coolmore. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 2007: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 237, no. 893. Dublin. Wordwell.

Monteith, J. 2010c 044 Coolmore. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 2007: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 237, no. 894. Dublin. Wordwell.