County: Kilkenny Site name: MULLINAVAT (032)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A032/032; E3328
Author: Jonathan Monteith, for Valerie J. Keeley Ltd.
Site type: Pit
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 656848m, N 624338m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.367661, -7.165240
This site was identified in the townland of Mullinavat, Co. Kilkenny, in the course of monitoring under licence number E3389 (see No. 991, Excavations 2007, A032/034) for work carried out for Kilkenny County Council/National Roads Authority during the N9/N10 Waterford to Powerstown scheme. The site was identified as three isolated pits (77m OD; Chainage 10050). Excavation took place in April 2007.
This site measured 15m by 15m and consisted of three large irregular pits, two of which intersected with each other. The earlier of the two pits (measuring 2.6m in length, 1.5m wide and 0.28m deep) had a U-shaped profile and was linear in plan. This feature was post-dated by a pit measuring 1.2m in length, 0.5m wide and 0.55m deep, which was subrectangular in plan with a flattened base made irregular by naturally protruding stones. Both pits contained occasional charcoal flecking and heat-shattered stone, as well as some evidence of in situ burning.
To the immediate south the third irregular pit was identified, measuring 3.7m in length, 2.1m wide and 0.2m deep. This cut also had a flat base and contained three fills, all of which had occasional charcoal flecking throughout.
No finds were recovered from these features during excavation; however, analysis of environmental samples may help secure a date and provide further details to aid analysis and interpretation.
Brehon House, Kilkenny Road, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny
