2007:833 - Moone, Kildare

This site was excavated as part of the N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford scheme, Phase 3: Kilcullen to Carlow. The site was situated on a small north–south ridge and comprised 22 pits, one ditch and one possible corn-drying kiln. An area measuring 2350m2 was opened, with five phases of occupation recorded. Topsoil clearance and excavation works commenced in May 2007 and were completed in July 2007.
The earliest phase of occupation was identified through the remains of cremation pits in the north-west quadrant of the site, representing a flat cremation cemetery. Six cremation pits were excavated including one blind burial. Only one pit was sealed with a capping layer. Three marker posts all containing token cremations were identified marking the outer limits of the burial area. The larger post (0.48m by 0.45m) was capped with a layer of orange/brown clay containing iron slag. One cremation pit produced two large sherds of thick-walled pottery.
A number of large oval pits and stakes were dispersed amongst these cremations. These features may relate to later phases of activity. However, the charcoal-enriched nature of the fills combined with the retrieval of hazelnut shells, amber beads and a loom weight may indicate that these features were funerary in nature.
The second phase of activity relates to the reduction of iron slag. Pits and furnaces containing slag were identified in the south-west and east of the site.
The third phase of activity was identified through the presence of a large kiln located in the south of the site. The kiln was figure-of-eight in plan measuring 3.2m north-east/south-west and 1.45m by 0.9m in depth. No visible seeds or macro-floral remains were identified but post-excavation analysis is pending. The collapsed remains of the original clay dome which covered the kiln chamber were well preserved.
The remains of four possible structures represented by curvilinear slot-trenches were identified towards the centre of the site. No complete structure was identified as this area was heavily truncated by post-medieval field boundaries. These structures are associated with a number of posts and stakes and may represent temporary dwellings or windbreaks.
The post-medieval activity on site relates to a number of large field boundary ditches which subdivided the field into three smaller plots. The present-day field division was initially illustrated on the first-edition OS maps and as such these field boundaries must pre-date 1837. A number of post-medieval/modern field drains were also recorded.