2007:114 - AR144, Tomard Lower, Carlow

This site was located within the N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford road scheme along Contract 2, Phase 4B, Knocktopher to Powerstown. Two distinct clusters of pits and burnt spreads were identified. The eastern complex consisted of an oval/rectangular-shaped trough (2.18m by 1.64m by 0.55m) with stake-holes in each corner as well as stake-holes along the south-east, south-west and north-east sides. The primary fill consisted of burnt-mound material, including approximately 60% stones. Beside this trough was a pit (1.4m by 1.2m by 0.3m) also with stake-holes in its base and also filled with burnt-mound material. A further four pits also containing burnt-mound material were located in this area. A gully (4m by 1.2m by 0.45m) with charcoal and ash fills and a possible post-hole (0.35m by 0.35m by 0.15m) lay under a crescent-shaped mound (0.12m by 0.04m by 0.2m) of burnt stone and charcoal-rich material. A second spread of this material was located to the immediate north (3m by 1.5m by 0.15m), which also covered a post-hole (0.5m by 0.4m by 0.3m). The western area of activity comprised four pits filled with burnt-mound material; none of these was readily identifiable as a trough.