County: Waterford Site name: Area 9 Knockhouse Lower
Sites and Monuments Record No.: n/a Licence number: 14E0468
Author: Fintan Walsh
Site type: Burnt mound
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 657570m, N 611845m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.255300, -7.156780
Excavation was undertaken in Archaeological Area 9 identified during monitoring (14E0383) of site preparation earthworks in advance of an industrial development.
The excavations followed on from a series of archaeological mitigation programs which included a programme of testing undertaken in August 2014 by IAC Ltd (14E0325) and a series of previous investigations including geophysical survey, testing and excavation.
This testing identified five areas of archaeology (Archaeological Areas 1–5) which included a previously identified enclosure (WA009-003001) in Area 1. Phase 1 of the development necessitated the excavation of Archaeological Areas 3 and 4 and part of Archaeological Area 1 (the results of which are subject to a separate report). Areas 2, 5 and the remainder of Area 1 (including the enclosure) are within the Phase 2 of the development.
The subsequent ground works were undertaken by Kirwan Civil Engineering Contractors and took place in accordance with Part 8 planning approval. The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht made a submission on the planning application which set out their requirement for monitoring of topsoil stripping and/or ground works on those parts of the site that were not being archaeologically excavated in advance of construction under licence 14E0325 (Archaeological Areas 1 (part of); Area 3 and Area 4).
A total of seven additional areas (Areas 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12) of archaeology were identified during the monitoring (14E0383). Areas 9 (a burnt mound) was subsequently excavated under licence 14E0468 while the remaining areas were excavated under licence 14E0325 ext. and are subject to a separate report.
The burnt mound comprised two distinct areas. A large trough (2.95m x 1.52m x 0.57m deep) with post-holes was associated with a small burnt mound deposit of heat-fractured stone and charcoal-rich clays in the south-west corner of the site. A larger burnt mound deposit which measured 14m x 9m x 0.2m deep sealed two smaller pits/depressions in the centre of the site.
Post-excavation analyses are ongoing.
IAC Ltd, Unit G1, Network Enterprise Park, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow
