County: Carlow Site name: JOHNSTOWN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A021/028
Author: Caitriona Gleeson, Headland Archaeology Ltd.
Site type: Fulacht fia
Period/Dating: Prehistoric (12700 BC-AD 400)
ITM: E 677583m, N 676248m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.831602, -6.848644
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, 70–78 and 97–99, Excavations 2005). This site consisted of the remains of three fulachta fiadh, along with small associated spreads of burnt stone. A substantial deposit of heat-shattered stone and charcoal was exposed at the western end of one trench. This extended for 5.2m east–west by c. 2m. A box-section through the material revealed a maximum depth of 0.3m for the deposit. A further spread of heat-shattered stone was located 1.1m south-west. This was 1.8m east–west by 0.8m and was situated beside a boulder outcrop. A compact clay deposit (0.35m in diameter), from which a broken flint blade was recovered, overlay the west of the boulder, which was 0.7m in length and 0.4m in maximum width. Three further deposits of heat-shattered stones, which may represent small troughs, were located at the eastern end of the trench. One was broadly square in shape and measured 1.6m east–west by 1.5m. The other two were small (<0.9m east–west), irregularly shaped deposits of heat-shattered stone located along the northern baulk of the trench.
A nearby trench uncovered evidence of a larger, more substantial fulacht fiadh. This measured 9m in maximum exposed extent east–west by 7.5m. A box-section excavated through the deposit revealed a depth of 0.3m for the mound material. No datable artefacts or troughs were uncovered during the course of test-trenching at this location.
Evidence of one further fulacht fiadh was uncovered a short distance away. This comprised the truncated base of a plank-lined trough. Two of the basal planks were exposed, which, together, measured 1.3m east–west by 0.7m. These were contained within a deposit of orange–yellow gravelly clay with frequent heat-shattered stone and charcoal. The extent of this deposit was 1.9m east–west by 1.5m. No artefacts were recovered from this feature. Although no distinct mound was evident at this location, the overlying topsoil was dark-brown/black in colour and contained much charcoal and a moderate amount of heat-shattered stones.
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