County: Kilkenny Site name: Clone, Kilmaganny
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 20E0452
Author: Seán Shanahan, Marion Sutton & Edel Barry, Shanarc Archaeology Ltd.
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 647495m, N 636554m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.478342, -7.300834
Archaeological test-excavations were carried out on 4 November 2020, in association with an application (Planning Ref. No. P20/235) for the proposed construction of a residential dwelling in Clone townland, Kilmaganny, Co. Kilkenny.
The site was located within the Zone of Archaeological Potential/Zone of Archaeological Notification associated with Clone Castle (KK031-019). The proposed development site formed part of an unimproved pasture field, accessed off local road L5076. The predominant site characteristic was evidence of historic quarrying, which focused on a low hillock or ridge of limestone on the southern boundary of the proposed development site, marking the site of Clone Castle (KK031-019), and the area in the foreground of the hillock, where historic quarry pits recorded on historic Ordnance Survey maps have since been infilled.
A total of 7 test trenches were machine excavated across the site. These were laid out in a targeted array to cover the site of the proposed dwelling and garage, the on-site sewerage treatment system and percolation area, and entrance driveway. Excavated trenches measured 2m in width, 13-56m in length and 0.03-1.15m in depth.
The ground sloped downwards from east to west. East-west orientated trenches were deeper at the west with some evidence for infilling of quarry pits. The general stratigraphy comprised a sod and dark brown silty clay with a fragmented limestone layer overlying limestone bedrock.
No features, deposits or finds of archaeological significance were uncovered during testing.
Unit 39a, Hebron Business Park, Hebron Road, Kilkenny
