2005:073 - BUSHERSTOWN, Carlow

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 and 70–72 above and Nos 74–78 and 97–100 below). This site at Busherstown comprised four distinct areas of archaeological activity within a single field. Prior to test-trenching, this field was considered to be archaeologically significant and geophysical analysis had identified a range of features, including a possible ditch associated with an adjacent Early Christian enclosure and a series of irregularly shaped anomalies and linear features. The field was immediately to the west of an area containing ecclesiastical remains (SMR 7:32). Aboveground these comprise an enclosed rectangular graveyard and a nearby bullaun stone (SMR 7:17). A distinct curving boundary in the west of the tested field may represent an outer enclosure of the ecclesiastical remains and a geophysical survey undertaken inside the boundary revealed a dense concentration of linear and irregularly shaped features of archaeological potential.
In the north of the field was a possible hollow way or roadway. This was identified during the field inspection undertaken for the EIS, but geophysical survey did not produce any findings for this feature. Prior to excavation, the line of the hollow way was apparent as a linear depression running east–west across the field. During the course of testing three trenches were excavated at the location of the hollow way. Evidence of a possible trackway was noted in one of the trenches. This area of the field had been used to dump 20th-century material and this deposit, along with deep ploughing activity, significantly truncated the possible hollow way. The remains comprised the foundation levels of a wide linear feature flanked by parallel east–west-running ditches. The foundation of the hollow way comprised a concave cut into the underlying eroded granite bedrock c. 6m in width. This was overlaid by topsoil, which contained many cobbles and small pebbles. The flanking ditches were located c. 4.5m at either side of the hollow way and each measured 1.1m in width and 0.3m in average depth. No artefacts were recovered from these features.
To the east, a ditch was identified which may be related to the curving boundary forming the east of the field. This was located c. 3m west of the boundary. It was cut into the underlying bedrock and measured 2.03m across the top, which narrowed to 1.05m at the base of the feature. The ditch was broadly U-shaped, with steeply sloping near-vertical sides, and was filled by dark-brown loosely compacted silty clay with many large and medium-sized stones. The ditch was 0.65m in maximum depth with a flat base and it was orientated broadly north–south. No artefacts were recovered from the fill.
Around 12m to the south of the ditch was a post-medieval ditch and possible revetment wall located adjacent to the curving field boundary. The ditch was clearly defined and ran diagonally along the southern baulk of the trench. It was aligned east–west on a similar axis to the possible hollow way described above. The maximum exposed width of the ditch was 1.2m. The sides of the ditch sloped steeply to a flat base, which was 0.7m below ground level. The fill was mid-brown silty clay with many pebbles, bricks and stones. Post-medieval pottery sherds were recovered from basal levels of the fill. The possible revetment wall was apparent prior to excavation as a low, narrow, north–south-running ridge c. 2m west of the curving field boundary. Trenching uncovered a clay-bonded stone wall consisting of three exposed courses of large, unevenly shaped limestone blocks c. 0.4m in height and 0.7m wide. There was a deposit of packing material against the eastern face of the wall which comprised silty clay containing smaller, less regular stones. The structural remains at this location may represent a revetment wall at the base of the curvilinear field boundary. No artefacts from the area adjacent to the wall or the layer of packing were recovered.
To the south, over the remaining area of the field, was a widely distributed scatter of possible prehistoric features. The greatest concentration, which mainly comprised truncated possible pits and post-holes, was in the south of the field, where a dense distribution of possible post- and stake-holes (c. 200 in number) along with approximately 40 of both irregular- and subcircular-shaped pits and areas of in situ burning were revealed. The post-holes measured 0.7–0.2m in diameter and 0.15m in maximum depth and were uniformly filled by mid-brown silty clay with occasional to frequent charcoal inclusions. The possible pits varied in size and plan, but most were between 0.3 and 0.7m in exposed diameter and were filled by mid- to dark-brown silty clay with variable amounts of charcoal. No structures could be confidently identified from the distribution pattern of these features in the excavated trenches, but they were apparently structural in nature. Two worked flint artefacts were recovered from the interface between the topsoil and the subsoil in one trench.