County: Kilkenny Site name: Ardra, Clogh Road, Castlecomer
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 08E0762
Author: Sinéad Phelan, Phelan Archaeological Services, 10 Brotherton, Sleaty Road, Carlow.
Site type: Testing
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 653205m, N 673877m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.813246, -7.210758
An assessment was carried out in a greenfield site at Ardra, Clogh Road, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny, measuring 220m by 190m east–west and located to the north of Castlecomer town.
Eighteen test-trenches were mechanically excavated to a depth of c. 0.65m across the proposed development site. Two areas (A and B) were extended to establish nature and extent of two deposits. In Area A, within Trench 6, one small deposit was recorded. An area of 8m2 was opened and no other features were found associated with this deposit. In Area B, within Trench 18, two shallow burnt spreads were exposed towards the southern end of the trench, measuring 1.8 long, 1m wide and 0.03m deep and 2m long, 1.2m wide and 0.04m deep respectively. This area was extended 8m west and 10m north and south; due to the presence of two water services crossing the proposed development this area was not extended to the east. These features appear to be modern in origin, although this was not definitely confirmed due to limitations as a result of the presence of water services. The full nature and extent of these spreads can be recorded during monitoring of topsoil-stripping in advance of or as part of the construction programme.
