2000:0527 - GORTEENS, Kilkenny

Testing took place in advance of development in March 2000. The site is located in the townland of Gorteens in County Kilkenny, on the border with Waterford. It lies directly north of the River Suir and to the west of Belview Port.

Two test-trenches were excavated. Cutting 1 measured 2m x 10m and was located across a visible tree stand. Cutting 2 measured 2m x 30m, extending a further 10m east. Cutting 2 traversed two subtle linear features to the east of and in the adjoining field to Cutting 1.

Cutting 1 was orientated north–south and was excavated to a depth of 0.79m. The southern end produced sterile silts and natural, mottled clay. The northern end produced an upper layer (0–0.55m) of blackish-grey, loose silt with angular stones. Included in this were 19th- and 20th-century finds of red brick, earthenware pottery and brick. The cutting shallowed out to sterile silt and natural clay similar to the southern side. The material appears to have been dumped in the process of constructing the tree-ring feature and is interpreted as an estate feature associated with the listed building of Springfield House, which lies to the east of the stand.

Cutting 2 was opened across two low linear mounds in a west–east direction to the south of Springfield House and just north of the River Suir. The stratigraphy of this trench was striated and mixed and showed signs of clear disturbance over time. The natural silts and clays had a banded appearance, with the topsoil varying in depth from 0.28m in the western end to 0.15m at its eastern limit. Below this upper layer, to both the east and the west, there is a distinct rise of soft brown earth approximately 0.15m in depth, which indicates the gradual undulation of the linear features. The trench was opened to an average depth of 0.75m.

The upper topsoil produced post-medieval finds including glazed print ware, porcelain ware, all-over highly glazed blackware and a fragment of a clay pipe. The stratigraphy of the trench was such that sterile silts and clays ran both under and over each other along the cutting. At its lower levels two stone-filled drainage features and one cultivation furrow were noted as narrow linear bands running in a north-east/south-west direction and parallel to one another along the trench.

The drains appeared as narrow, shallow, stone-filled cuttings; the cultivation furrow was shallow (0.07m) and filled with a mid-grey, soft silt. The three features had a very subtle cut evident above their exposure level, with the silts and clays above being laid on top of the drains and furrow, sealing them. No finds were recovered from the drains or furrow when sectioned.

Cutting 2 was extended eastwards by 10m to take in the full extent of the eastern linear feature. The stratigraphy here was similar to the western part of the trench. One further drainage feature and a cultivation furrow were again located at the same level as the previously located features and were similar in size and direction. Immediately within the extended part of the trench, some 1.5m east of the initial cutting, a hearth site was uncovered that spanned the width of the cutting in a north-east/south-west direction. The hearth appears to be clay-lined, with charcoal flecks and burnt stone inclusions. It is located at the lower, western side of the eastern linear feature as it gently begins to rise. Though part of the hearth was truncated by the digger, excavation of the feature was not undertaken because it ran under the southern baulk.

One stray sherd of Leinster cooking ware was found associated with the hearth site. The presence of the drainage features and the mixture of clay and silt soil types suggest an association with the Springfield House estate, perhaps as introduced soil for a pond feature or gardens. The hearth site may also be associated with the estate, being at the same level as the drainage and cultivation furrows, but the stray find of Leinster cooking ware highlights the potential for earlier archaeology in the area, perhaps in association with Gorteen’s Castle.

Further excavation is recommended at the hearth site and at Gorteen’s Castle prior to the development proceeding.

3 Canal Place, Tralee, Co. Kerry