2007:761 - Baronsland, Kildare

This site was identified in 2006 during testing of the N9/N10 Kilcullen to Carlow roadway by IAC Ltd. At this time the site was identified as a pit and an area of burning. The pit was recorded as being subcircular in plan and measured 1.7m by 1.5m by 0.08m deep; it contained a large flint scraper. The area of burning was located nearby. An area measuring 100m2 was stripped of topsoil to accommodate the resolution of the site. This was subsequently extended to the south, east and west. Excavation was undertaken on a phased basis commencing on 17 August 2007 and ceasing on 5 December 2007.
The site was severely truncated in the east and west by environmental test-trenches which were in excess of 1.5m in width and 1m in depth. This severely truncated the archaeological stratigraphy identified during, and subsequent to, the initial IAC testing programme.
The archaeological excavation of the site identified that the area of burnt clay noted during the test excavation was a broad area of oxidised clay associated with the main pit, C.26. This pit was oval in plan and measured 2.7m north–south by 1.4m by 0.24m in depth. It was surrounded by a small number of stake-holes which had the stakes removed prior to decay; their location suggests they formed a super-structure, leading to the interpretation of this feature as a cooking pit. A number of flint and chert lithics were retrieved from the pit fills.
Two possible house structures were identified 4m to the south of the hearth. Structure 1 was semicircular in plan, measuring 4.2m north–south by 3.5m. A possible entrance may have existed in the north-west but this portion of the structure was damaged by the aforementioned test-trench. Structure 2 was semicircular in plan, with surviving elements measuring 7.5m north–south by 4m. The east portion of the structure was damaged by the test-trench. It was also subsequently truncated by a number of large posts. Both Structures 1 and 2 were found in association with a number of internal and external stakes and posts, which were removed prior to decay. These features may have functioned as roof supports.
A small windbreak was located 0.9m to the east of Pit 026 and was orientated north–south. It comprised 25 stakes over a length of 5m and was deliberately dismantled, suggesting the feature was of a temporary nature. One stake-hole contained two sherds of prehistoric pottery. A pit, 032 (0.46m east–west by 0.3m by 0.06m), located 1.6m to the south of 026, also contained a sherd of prehistoric pottery. An additional north-west/south-east alignment of eleven stakes was identified in the north-east corner of the site; this area was also severely damaged by the test-trenching. Post-excavation analysis of the site is ongoing.