2005:054 - ARDNEHUE, Carlow

Testing took place of Area 2 of the Archaeological Services Contract 3, N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford Scheme: Kilcullen to Powerstown. Area 2 ran from Russellstown to Moyle Big townlands. Fourteen areas of archaeological significance were identified (Sites 1–14: A021/016–29). At Ardnehue, two deposits of fulacht fiadh material were located within a 40m stretch of the road corridor. The larger deposit extended for 6m and was c. 4m in width. This was a moderately compact sandy clay layer with a lot of burnt and shattered stones. The layer was heavily truncated by ploughing and post-medieval field drains and the average depth of surviving remains was 0.1m. An underlying and adjacent silt and ash layer was uncovered, extending for 5.1m on the east and 2.4m on the west. This may have developed under the influence of natural leeching of minerals through the stony matrix of fulacht material. This was 0.08m in average depth. A smaller deposit of fulacht fiadh material was exposed at the end of an offset trench c. 30m north-west. This was irregular in plan, measuring c. 3m in maximum length and 2m in width. The deposit survived to a depth of 0.07m and again comprised a moderately compact layer of sandy clay with very frequent charcoal and burnt, heat-shattered stones.