Enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

Excavated in 2006 in advance of the N9/N10 Waterford to Kilcullen Road Improvement Scheme (Excavation licence no. E2510). The western half of a subcircular area (diam. c. 27-8m) defined by a V-shaped fosse (Wth 2.6m; max. D 1.2m) with two smaller fosses extending from it to the NW. These fosses returned dates of cal AD 419-535 (UBA-13483) and extended beyond the limits of the excavation. A number of pits in this area were interpreted as rubbish pits. It is probable that the enclosure extended outside the excavated area to the E. A radiocarbon date of cal AD 885-990 (UBA-13482) was recovered form one of the lower fills within the fosse. Two Early Neolithic pits (KK036-064----) were excavated in the NW quadrant. (McKinstry 2009, 259-10, no. 1018; 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, 259-10, no. 1018. 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, E2510 Site AR030, Earlsrath, Co. Kilkenny. Unpublished excavation report submitted to the National Monuments Service, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dublin.