2007:1010 - AR138, Seskin Lower, Kilkenny

This site was located within the N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford road scheme along Contract 2, Phase 4B, Knocktopher to Powerstown, and was identified as a ringfort during testing. An area 40m by 50m (east–west) was stripped of topsoil and c. 20% of the site was within the proposed road-take, therefore excavation was required. An outer ditch with an internal diameter of 20.5m had a break in the ditch, forming a south-east-facing entrance feature. The southern end of the outer ditch measured 17.5m by 1.6m and the northern end measured 6m by 2.5m with a maximum depth of 1.13m. A smaller, earlier, internal ditch (cut by a later ditch at the northern end) with an internal diameter of 14m, measuring 8.8m by 0.9m at the southern end and 5.5m by 1.1m at the northern end with a depth of 0.57m, was also identified. A series of six post-holes were recorded at the entrance. At the southern end of the site the outer ditch cut an earlier circular hut with an internal diameter of 2.5m. Radiocarbon dating and environmental analysis is pending and will be discussed in a final archaeological report.