County: Kildare Site name: MOONE
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: E002982
Author: Emer Dennehy, for Headland Archaeology Ltd.
Site type: Habitation site and Children's burial ground
Period/Dating: Medieval (AD 400-AD 1600)
ITM: E 676867m, N 694822m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.998607, -6.854884
This site was excavated as part of the N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford scheme, Phase 3: Kilcullen to Carlow. The site was identified by CRDS Ltd as a complex of 38 pits situated near the brow of a ridge in the proposed area of excavation. It is situated 45m to the south of Moone townland boundary and is defined in the east by a field boundary which also marks the western limit of the fulacht fiadh site E2981 (see No. 835, Excavations 2007). An area measuring 4079m2 was opened for investigation. Topsoil clearance and excavation work on this site commenced on 24 March 2007 and was completed by the 17 May 2007.
The archaeological stratigraphy concentrated on the eastern half of the site in an area measuring 45m east–west by 55m. The limits of the archaeological stratigraphy were defined in the west by a raised ridge of slate bedrock. A total of 500 contexts were recorded, representing at least four phases of occupation. The primary form of feature on site was post/stakes (111), with 86 pits (rubbish/furnace/slag/roasting pits) in addition to a possible kiln and a minimum of eight child burials also excavated.
The earliest phase of occupation on site relates directly to an adjoining fulacht fiadh excavated under licence number E2981. At least sixteen features on site were filled with burnt stone and charcoal representing outlying fulacht fiadh activity. Posts associated with roasting pits were primarily removed suggesting they represented temporary structures such as campsites or windbreaks.
A number of pits containing iron slag were excavated. These were situated on the western bank of the shallow pond (003) identified within the adjoining fulacht fiadh site, E2981.
Three circular houses were excavated, with a single sherd of medieval pottery providing a tentative time frame. Structures 1 and 2 were defined by shallow slots with no visible post- or stake-holes. Only a small portion of Structure 2 is present within the CPO line. Structure 3 is of post and stake construction. Associated rubbish pits located in proximity to these structures contained waste bones such as cattle vertebrae and skulls weighed down by stone deposits.
A minimum of eight child burials, representing two burial phases, were excavated towards the northern site boundary. The earliest burials are supine and crouched neonates placed in shallow pits (0.1m) and buried with grave goods. The second burial phase was represented by juveniles in formal east–west rectangular grave-cuts. The juvenile burials may represent a formal children’s burial-ground extending outside the limits of the CPO and influenced by the site’s liminal location in proximity to the townland boundary. These burials are of medieval/post-medieval date.
Finds from the site were limited and include a lignite bracelet, a pot, two bronze rings and an iron knife.
Unit 1, Wallingstown Business Park, Little Island, Cork
