2007:978 - AR118, Kilmacahill, Kilkenny

This site was located within the N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford road scheme along Contract 2, Phase 4B, Knocktopher to Powerstown, on a gentle rise with views to the east and south-east. An irregular, north-west/south-east pit (3.9m by 1.78m by 0.32m depth) contained three fills, the uppermost of which was charcoal-rich and contained nine sherds of probable Late Neolithic grooved-ware pottery, four of which were decorated. A sherd of this pottery was also discovered during the testing of this site. Approximately 15m to the south-east were 58 post-holes, stake-holes and small pits spread over an area of 13m by 9m. The largest of the pits (1.6m by 1.15m by 0.4m depth) may represent the remains of a kiln. No obvious structure is discernible from the arrangement of post- and stake-holes. However, it is possible that they represent several phases of activity. Dating of material from the post-holes will hopefully illustrate the relationship between this area of activity and the pit containing the Neolithic pottery.