County: Kilkenny Site name: Maddockstown
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 07E1143
Author: Tim Coughlan with Faith Bailey, Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd, 120B Greenpark Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow.
Site type: Prehistoric activity (?)
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 656637m, N 654438m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.638204, -7.163214
Excavation commenced at this site on 26 November 2007 and continued for three days. The site is located within the compound associated with the proposed N9/N10 Knoctopher to Powerstown road realignment and as a result would be adversely impacted on by construction work. All archaeological works located within the CPO of the scheme are subject to ministerial directions. This site is located outside of the CPO and as a result was subject to licence. The site was located on low-lying land with poor views of the surrounding landscape.
The main feature of the site consisted of a curvilinear feature, which had a total length of 11m and a diameter of 6.5m north–south. It possessed a maximum width of 0.95m and a maximum depth of 0.35m. The feature contained three fills, the secondary of which contained charcoal. A circular pit was also identified at the site, which was located 1.1m south of the northern terminal of the curvilinear feature and 1.85m to the north of the southern end. This was aligned north-north-east/south-south-west, measured 1.4m by 1.07m and possessed a depth of 0.56m. There were two fills, the primary of which was charcoal-rich. The cut also exhibited a large amount of in situ burning. It is not clear what purpose these features served. However, charcoal has been gathered for dating and when obtained this may aid in the interpretation of the site.
