County: Waterford Site name: Whitestown
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 06E0281
Author: Tom Janes, Headland Archaeology Ltd, Unit 1, Wallingstown Business Park, Little Island, Cork.
Site type: Burnt mound; post-medieval
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 642629m, N 605581m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.200364, -7.376389
Excavation was conducted in advance of the East Waterford water pipeline construction from Ballyshonock reservoir to the River Mahon. Testing in 2006 under licence 06E0163 (see No. 2002 above) identified archaeological features and an enclosure, WA016–056, beyond the pipeline corridor.
Excavation revealed four phases of activity. The first phase was represented by a burnt spread and two associated rectangular pits. The spread was 1.2m by 0.6m in width and 0.07m in depth. The first pit was 1.6m by 0.6m and 0.15m deep and was filled by the burnt spread material. The second pit was 4m by 1.48m and 0.36m deep, although it continued beyond the limit of excavation; it was also filled by the burnt-spread material. These pits are likely to represent troughs and may be associated with a larger burnt mound beyond the limit of excavation.
The second phase of activity was represented by three post-medieval linear features. The third phase consisted of two post-medieval linear features truncating the earlier ones. The final phase of activity comprised a modern field drain. Within a natural depression of the topsoil, a flintlock pistol was discovered.
