County: Carlow Site name: BUSHERSTOWN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A021/022
Author: Caitriona Gleeson, Headland Archaeology Ltd.
Site type: Enclosure
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 677573m, N 675589m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.825674, -6.848949
This report deals with the results of testing of Area 2 of 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, see Nos 54, 70–71, 73–78 and 97–100, Excavations 2005). This site at Busherstown was initially identified through geophysical assessment undertaken in the area prior to Contract 3 testing. The assessment revealed evidence of a subcircular enclosure truncated by the northern boundary of a field. Approximately one-third of the enclosure will be damaged by the proposed route.
The feature formed a broad arc across all three trenches excavated here. The ditch had steeply sloping sides and was 0.7m in width across the top and narrowed to 0.16m at a flat base. The maximum depth of the feature was 0.8m and the fill comprised homogenous dark-reddish-brown silty clay with occasional charcoal and small stones. Based on the testing, the overall enclosure had a radial length of c. 25m. No datable artefacts were recovered from the ditch and testing did not uncover any evidence of internal features within the enclosure.
Unit 4b, Europa Enterprise Park, Midleton, Co. Cork
