Midden

The National Monuments Service's description

Excavated in 2006 as part of the N9/N10 Waterford to Powerstown Road Scheme (Excavation licence no. 3007). Three spreads containing large amounts of medieval pottery (Leinster cooking ware and Kilkenny type ware). A radiocarbon date was recovered from a sample of alder charcoal from one of these spreads which produced a result of cal AD 1287-1394 (UBA-13481). Burnt organic remains that included oats, wheat and barley were also recovered from this spread which would strongly suggest that these spreads may have represented refuse from domestic activities from a nearby moated site (KK036-032----) approximately 100m to the SE. A decorated spindle whorl was located in the topsoil. A number of linear and curvilinear ditches were excavated north of the spreads. All of the ditches were very shallow and narrow and they all seemed to have different orientations though they may represent agricultural activity or boundaries. The curvilinear ditch identified contained some medieval pottery fragments (Leinster cooking ware) which would suggest that the activity was of that date. Close to this curvilinear ditch was a shallow pit which contained large quantities of charcoal which was most likely a refuse pit. (McKinstry 2009, 260-61, no. 1021; 2010)

Compiled by: Mary Tunney

Date of upload: 8 October 2013

References

Mckinstry, L. 2009 Earlsrath. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 2006: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 260-61, no. 1021. Dublin. Wordwell.

McKinstry, L. 2010 N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford Scheme: Waterford to Knocktopher – Phase 2 Archaeological Resolution, Dunkitt to Sheepstown Co. Kilkenny Final Report A032/000, E3007 Site AR033, Earlsrath, Co. Unpublished excavation report submitted to the National Monuments Service, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dublin.