County: Kildare Site name: MOONE
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: E002975
Author: Emer Dennehy, Headland Archaeology Ltd.
Site type: Hut site, Hearth and Pit
Period/Dating: Bronze Age (2200 BC-801 BC)
ITM: E 677192m, N 693235m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.984294, -6.850424
This site was excavated as part of the N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford scheme, Phase 3: Kilcullen to Carlow. Testing by CRDS Ltd identified a hearth with dimensions of 0.74m by 0.6m which contained probable Late Bronze Age coarseware pottery and an area of burning 0.3m in diameter in the proposed area of investigation. It was noted by CRDS Ltd that ‘the nature of the archaeological features uncovered and the recovery of prehistoric pottery suggests the site may be regarded as the remains of a prehistoric camp/hut site’.
The hearth was excavated but no further pottery was retrieved. Additional features excavated on site included two drainage ditches, two furrows, three additional pits and six post-/stake-holes. The inter-cutting of features illustrates two episodes of use on site. As a number of the stakes cut the drainage ditches, it is currently interpreted that the majority of features on site are post-medieval/modern in date, probably relating to fence-lines and internal field boundaries. Analysis of the material is pending.
Unit 1, Wallingstown Business Park, Little Island, Cork
