2006:1075 - KNOCKMOYLAN, Kilkenny

The excavations at Knockmoylan, sites E2511, E3008 and E3009, were undertaken as part of the archaeological programme for the N9/N10 Waterford to Powerstown road scheme.

E3009 consisted of a cluster of prehistoric cist burials, cremation pits and stake-holes. There were a total of five cist burials. The northernmost cist was also the largest, measuring 0.8m by 0.6m and 0.5m deep. The subrectangular-shaped stone-lined pit contained a significant quantity of burnt bone as well as sherds of prehistoric pottery, which were sealed by two capstones. An urn was recovered from over the western part of the cist. The urn contained large quantities of burnt bone and charcoal. To the south-west of the large cist was another smaller subrectangular cist, which measured 0.44m by 0.54m and was 0.33m deep. The other three cists were smaller and subcircular in shape. The subcircular cists’ sizes varied, measuring between 0.4m by 0.52m and 0.3m in depth and 0.25 by 0.28m and 0.26m in depth. One contained an upturned urn that contained large amounts of burnt bone and charcoal. Five other subcircular pits similar in size to the subcircular cists were also identified. Nearly all of these contained both burnt bone and charcoal, with one that contained charcoal only. Both of the urns recovered from the site, though in bad condition, were identified as vase urns of the early food vessel tradition, of c. 2000 bc (E. Grogan, pers. comm.).