1999:629 - NEWRATH, Louth

A burnt spread was discovered during monitoring of topsoil-stripping associated with construction of the Dunleer–Dundalk Motorway. Excavation took place from 17 to 31 May 1999.

An area 11m x 8m was identified for excavation. The east and west limits were bounded by a drainage ditch and a field boundary ditch respectively. The burnt spread was a soft, black/grey, clayey silt with frequent angular, disaggregated stones, ash and charcoal. Initial examination of the stone suggests that red sandstone formed the bulk of the deposit. One large flint flake was recovered. Ploughing and machine disturbance had severely truncated and levelled most of the deposit into four shallow, isolated spreads.

When the burnt spread was removed a trough, two hearths and two pits were revealed cut into the subsoil. The trough was subcircular, 2.5m x 1.95m x 0.75m deep, and was interpreted as such based on its size. It was filled with redeposited subsoil, ash, charcoal and burnt stone.

Two hearths were revealed near the trough. One of these was subcircular, 1.89m x 1.13m x 0.3m deep. The base of the cut was scorched orange, and it was filled with dark brown, clayey silt with frequent charcoal, ash and burnt stone inclusions. The second hearth was of irregular shape, 1.37m x 0.75m x 0.2m deep. The cut was filled with ash and charcoal.

Two small pits were found 3.9m away from the trough and hearths. The larger of these was truncated by the modern field ditch and measured 0.84m x 0.51m x 0.22m deep. The second pit was oval and measured 0.52m x 0.42m x 0.26m deep. Both pits were filled with light grey, sandy silt containing burnt stone, ash and charcoal.

An unidentified coin and white chinaware were found in the fill of the field boundary ditch, and three flint flakes were found in the topsoil. It is hoped to obtain radiocarbon dates from charcoal samples recovered.

6 Riverview, Ardnore, Kilkenny