County: Louth Site name: Haggardstown
Sites and Monuments Record No.: - Licence number: 06E0270
Author: Gill McLoughlin and Rob Lynch, Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd, 9 Albert Terrace, Meath Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow.
Site type: Kilns, pits and post-holes
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 705685m, N 802964m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.965161, -6.389335
Monitoring of topsoil removal in the vicinity of excavations 06E0485, 06E0484 and 06E0483 (see Nos 1367–9 below) was undertaken at a planned housing scheme. The entire area was previously subjected to an extensive programme of testing (Excavations 2005, No. 1078, 05E0963). During the monitoring some small features were uncovered which were subsequently excavated and recorded.
Area A, 305676 303067
Area A was situated c. 65m east of the Neolithic house excavated under licence 06E0485 (see No. 1367 below) and may have been an outlying pit associated with that activity. A single circular pit was excavated measuring 0.7m by 0.64m by 0.15m. The fill contained 65 pieces of flint, including a blade and a few sherds of probable Neolithic pottery.
Area B, 305674 303020
A small kiln was excavated measuring 1.9m by 0.89m by 0.25m. It was slightly irregular in shape but appeared to be a truncated figure-of-eight shape. In the base of the kiln was a deposit of oxidised soil mixed with charcoal and charred grains. This kiln was associated with a further six kilns in the vicinity (two excavated under licence 06E0485, see No. 1367 below, and one excavated under 06E0483, see No. 1369 below, and another three under this licence).
Area C, 305695 302955
A small figure-of-eight-shaped kiln was excavated measuring 1.52m by 0.84m by 0.21m, with evidence of in situ burning in the base. This kiln was associated with a further six kilns in the vicinity (two excavated under licence 06E0485, see No. 1367 below, one excavated under 06E0483, see No. 1369 below, and another three under this licence). Charcoal was recovered from the basal fill but no charred grains.
Area D, 305757 302953
A concentration of pits and post-holes was excavated, which may represent a structure. This activity was located c. 50m south-east of two Bronze Age houses and could be associated with them. Nine post-/stake-holes and ten pits were excavated and, although a structure was indicated, no clear pattern could be discerned. Small amounts of flint, including a concave scraper, were recovered from some of the features. In one pit, two sherds and some small fragments of prehistoric pottery were found, possibly Bronze Age in date.
Area E, 305471 303140
Area E was situated to the west of the area excavated under licence 06E0485 (see No. 1367 below). Various isolated pits and a kiln were excavated in this area. The kiln was figure-of-eight in shape and measured 2.72m by 0.94m by 0.44m. It contained an organic layer close to the base that contained charcoal and charred grains.
The only pit to contain any finds was a subcircular pit with steep sides and a concave base. It measured 1.5m by 1.64m by 0.52m and one of the fills contained nine sherds of prehistoric pottery, probably Bronze Age in date, and fifteen pieces of flint. This pit may have been an outlying feature associated with the Late Bronze Age enclosure excavated c. 80m to the east.
Area M, 305743 302669
Located to the south of Area D another kiln was excavated. It was figure-of-eight in shape and measured 3.25m by 1.1m by 0.66m. It contained six different fills and there was oxidised clay and some charcoal in the base. This kiln was associated with a further six kilns in the vicinity (two excavated under licence 06E0485, see No. 1367 below, one excavated under 06E0483, see No. 1369 below, and another three under this licence). Charcoal and charred grains were recovered from one of the deposits close to the base of the kiln.
