2005:074 - 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 70–73 above and Nos 75–78 and 97–100 below). This site at Busherstown comprised a scatter of truncated pits and post-holes. In total, the features consisted of 45 possible post-holes and 20 potential pits identified in three offset trenches. The post-holes were located irregularly throughout the trenches and measured 0.12–0.16m in average diameter and 0.15m in maximum depth. They were consistently filled by mid-brown sandy clay with occasional charcoal fragments. The post-holes did not form a coherent pattern and no potential structures could be identified from the remains. The possible pits were also distributed irregularly across the site and were located both near to and at a distance from the post-holes. Most of the possible pits were irregular in plan and many extended underneath the baulks of the test-trenches. They measured 0.4–0.8m in exposed diameter and were uniformly filled by mid- to dark-brown sandy clay with occasional charcoal fragments. One pit contained a very charcoal-rich fill. It is possible that the irregular shape and sterile fill of a number of the possible pits may suggest their origin as tree holes. No artefacts were recovered from this site. The features exposed were very similar in plan and morphology to those identified at A021/023 (see No. 73 above) but less frequent in number.