County: Kilkenny Site name: SITE AR052, SHEEPSTOWN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A032; E3020
Author: John Lehane, for Valerie J. Keeley Ltd, Brehon House, Kilkenny Road, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny.
Site type: Ditch and burnt area
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 651662m, N 637430m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.485841, -7.239358
An excavation took place during August 2006 in advance of the construction of the N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford road improvement scheme. Prior assessment (Valerie J. Keeley Ltd, 2005) and centreline test-trenching was carried out by Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd in 2006.
A curvilinear path ran north–south, measured 40m by 2m and was up to 0.3m deep. A hearth was circular in shape and measured 1.1m by 0.8m and 0.23m deep. Several other possible features were identified. Excavation of these showed, however, that they consisted of root boles and stone sockets and were non-archaeological. Excavations at this site revealed a pathway which may have served a number of functions over a long period of time, from a path leading local people to a religious place and or event, to a path leading local people to a social dance and outing. The isolated hearth was the result of a once-off firing, which may or may not have been associated with the pathway.
Editor’s note: This summary did not arrive in time for inclusion in the bulletin of 2006.
