2006:1084 - Newrath, Kilkenny

Test-trenching was carried out in a recently cleared area of woodland on the line of the N25 Waterford bypass in Newrath townland. This area formed part of Mullinabro House estate and the consulted cartographic sources indicated that it had been wooded since the 18th century. A number of pre-construction archaeological investigations have been carried out in the surrounding area. The excavations carried out by Brendon Wilkins (Ministerial Direction A009) to the west of the wooded area uncovered Mesolithic deposits and artefacts, a small burnt mound and the remains of timber trackways and platforms, radiocarbon dated to the Bronze Age, Iron Age and medieval eras. The excavations carried out by Joanne Hughes (Excavations 2004, No. 918, 04E0319) to the north-east of the wooded area uncovered Neolithic pits, a late Neolithic ring-ditch, an Iron Age metalworking area, plough furrows and modern material, and undated pits. The excavations by Joanna Wren (Excavations 2004, No. 919, 04E0288) in the area to the east produced evidence of settlement from the Early Neolithic period in the shape of a rectangular house and a large number of pits and post-holes. The remains of late Neolithic and Bronze Age burials were also uncovered in this area and these included a ring-ditch and pit cremations.
Seventeen test-trenches were excavated across the previously wooded area and the remains of a fulacht fiadh were uncovered close to the north bank of a small infilled stream at the east end of this area. Following consultation with the relevant authorities it was agreed that this site be fully excavated and this was carried out under licence E3198 (see No. 1085 below).