2007:923 - AR116, Garryduff, Kilkenny

This site was located within the N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford road scheme along Contract 2, Phase 4B, Knocktopher to Powerstown, on a small gravel ridge/hill that slopes gently down to the Monefelim River to the north-east. An area 30m by 30m with an extension of 2.5m to the west and a further area 9m by 5m to the north was stripped of topsoil. A circular structure, comprising an external ring of 37 post- and stake-holes, positioned in a shallow, curving slot-trench enclosing an area 11m in diameter and an inner ring of ten larger post-holes (7m diameter), was located on the edge of the break of slope which led down to the river. No entranceway could be identified; one sherd of pottery has been identified as Early Neolithic (Eoin Grogan). A pit (1.25m by 1.28m by 0.76m) filled with organic material was located within the outer ring but most likely post-dates the structure. A second pit or natural hollow (11.4m by 6.6m by 0.9m depth) containing post-medieval artefacts also post-dates the round house. A circle of five posts was also located directly adjacent to and south of the main structure and may represent a grain stand. Five pits filled with heat-affected stones and organic deposits were located further south of the structure and may have been used for food storage or simply as rubbish pits. In the far south-western corner of the site a curving arc (12m long) of eighteen post- and stake-holes was identified which may continue beyond the excavation area. Four test-trenches were opened in close proximity to the road in an attempt to trace this arc but no further features were noted.