County: Kilkenny Site name: Site 4-1, 2, 3, 4 Cotterellsrath
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 12E0388
Author: AISLING MULCAHY
Site type: Prehistoric
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 649514m, N 646780m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.570068, -7.269592
Site 4-1, 2, 3, 4 Cotterellsrath was discovered during monitoring of topsoil stripping for the Bord Gáis Networks Gas to Great Island scheme (above No. 334, 12E0356). Four areas of activity were excavated; 4-1 contained nothing of archaeological significance; 4-2 contained a pit and a post-hole structure; 4-3 contained a pit; and 4-4 contained a post-hole structure. It is not clear which, if any, of these features represent contemporary activity.
Area 4-2 had evidence of two phases of activity, the earliest being a centrally located pit of irregular rounded shape measuring 1.53m by 1.25m by 0.38m. The pit was cut by three post-holes. These post-holes were part of a possible structure from the second phase of activity. Ten post-holes were recorded in total and ranged in diameter from 0.19m to 0.55m. The post-holes may have formed a 2.5m by 1.5m sub-rectangular structure or, alternatively could be interpreted as forming east-north-east to west-south-west-orientated parallel fence-lines 1.5m apart.
Area 4-3 contained a single pit with an irregular sub-square shape and a shallow concave profile with three rounded depressions. The pit measured 1.41m by 1.3m and was just 0.1m deep.
Area 4-4 consisted of a possible structure comprising seven post-holes and four pits (or truncated post-holes). The post-holes formed two parallel alignments orientated north-east to south-west, possible fence lines. The four pits were located at the south-west end of the structure. Together the post-holes and pits formed a U-shaped arrangement of features, measuring approximately 7m by 4m. The fills contained heat-affected stone and, in one case, yielded a few fragments of burnt bone.
TVAS (IRELAND) LTD, AHISH, BALLINRUAN, CRUSHEEN, CO. CLARE
