County: Kilkenny Site name: SITE 10, MOYLE BIG
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A021/039
Author: Linda Hegarty, Headland Archaeology Ltd, Unit 4b, Europa Enterprise Park, Midleton, Co. Cork.
Site type: Pits
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 676934m, N 673299m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.805192, -6.858981
One of these pits along the route of the proposed N9/N10 Kilcullen–Waterford scheme: Contract 3, Prumplestown to Powerstown, was oval in plan and measured 0.7m long by 0.5m wide and 0.17m deep. It had steep sides and a rounded base with a U-shaped profile. The base and sides of the feature were bright orange and appeared to have been oxidised as a result of intense heat within the feature. There were two distinct fills. Fragments of metalworking debris and burnt clay were recovered. A double pit was figure-of-eight-shaped in plan and consisted of two circular features surrounded on the surface by burnt clay. The extent of the burnt clay was 1.2m by 0.65m. The circular features were very similar in character and only one was sectioned. It was shown to have steeply sloping sides and a convex base. It measured 0.45m by 0.3m and was 0.18m deep. The base had been oxidised as a result of in situ burning. The fill contained much charcoal; metalworking debris was recovered from the surface of the unsectioned pit.
