County: Kilkenny Site name: Oldtown, Burnchurch
Sites and Monuments Record No.: KK-023-055 Licence number: 15E0368
Author: Seán Shanahan
Site type: Rural well maintained farmland - No archaeology found.
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 648684m, N 648226m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.583139, -7.281623
On the day 8 trenches were opened and explored. The site is directly adjacent to the ringfort KK023-055. The route of the trenches circumvented the enclosure and went on to explore the footprint of the development.
Trench 1 - The mid-brown sod and topsoil layer measured 0.15m deep. This overlay a mid-brown sandy silt subsoil with occasional-moderate, small-medium sized sub-rounded and angular stones.
Trench 2 - The mid-brown sod and topsoil layer measured 0.15m deep. This overlay a mid-brown sandy silt subsoil with occasional-moderate, small-medium sized sub-rounded and angular stones.
Trench 3 - The mid-brown sod and topsoil layer measured 0.10m deep. This overlay a mid-brown sandy silt subsoil with occasional-moderate, small-medium sized sub-rounded and angular stones.
Trench 4 -The mid-brown sod and topsoil layer measured 0.10m deep. This overlay a mid-brown sandy silt subsoil with occasional-moderate, small-medium sized sub-rounded and angular stones.
Trench 5 was opened along an existing access road on the W side of ringfort KK023-055. The existing road had truncated the slope of the hillside, cutting into the subsoil. No features or material of archaeological significance were noted in section. Removal of the hardcore surface revealed a mid-brown sandy silt subsoil with occasional-moderate, small-medium sized sub-rounded and angular stones.
Trench 6 was opened along an existing access road on the NW side of ringfort KK023-055. The existing road had truncated the slope of the hillside, cutting into the subsoil. No features or material of archaeological significance were noted in section. Removal of the hardcore surface revealed a greater depth of stones. The 1839-40 first edition OS map indicates this area was quarried out, and the machine driver recalled this bend in the access road being a hollow that horses bathed in that was subsequently filled in with up to a 2m depth of stones.
Trench 7 was opened along an existing access road on the NW side of ringfort KK023-055. The existing road had truncated the slope of the hillside, cutting into the subsoil. No features or material of archaeological significance were noted in section. Removal of the hardcore surface revealed a mid-brown sandy silt subsoil with occasional-moderate, small-medium sized sub-rounded and angular stones.
Trench 8 was opened along an existing access road on the N side of ringfort KK023-055. The mid-brown sod and topsoil layer measured 0.15-0.2m deep. This overlay a mid-brown sandy silt subsoil with occasional-moderate, small-medium sized sub-rounded and angular stones.
Shanarc Archaeology Ltd. 39A Hebron Business Park, Hebron Road, Kilkenny
