2021:648 - N24 Tower Road Junction Improvement Scheme, Piltown (including Belline and Rogerstown 2), Kilkenny

Test trenching and a metal detection survey were carried out within 3.5 hectares of farmland acquired for the construction of the proposed N24 Tower Road Junction Improvement Scheme, Piltown, Co. Kilkenny.
Test trenching examined 17.7% of the Lands Made Available, revealing remnants of recent agricultural activity (drains and furrows) and limited evidence of relatively modern features (field boundaries, quarries, road). A potential archaeological site (recorded as Belline and Rogerstown 1) proved on investigation to be a tree throw hole associated with an 18th- or 19th-century field boundary.
One archaeological feature, a charcoal-production pit, was discovered and fully excavated during the test trenching, with the site being named Belline and Rogerstown 2 (ITM 644841.9 622544.1). The pit was a shallow (max. 0.02m deep) rectangular feature with rounded corners, 1.95m long (north-west to south-east) by 0.85m wide. Its base was subsoil oxidised to a depth of 0.02m, indicative of intense in-situ burning. The pit fill was moderately compact, black clayey silt, which contained frequent small lumps of charcoal and occasional small stones. Specialist analysis revealed that the pit only contained oak charcoal, a mix of heartwood and sapwood, which derived from larger branches and trunks. The combination of the morphology of the pit and the exclusive presence of oak charcoal in its fill indicates that this was a charcoal-production pit.
A sample of probable sapwood charcoal was radiocarbon dated to the period between the earlier 11th century and the mid-12th century AD (cal. AD 1031-1157 (UBA-46992; 954 BP±23)). Given that the dated sample was probable sapwood, formed during the years immediately prior to the tree being felled, it is likely that the radiocarbon date reflects the use of the pit.
Metal detecting under licence 21R0206 was undertaken systematically during testing. Metal finds recovered include coins, buttons, nails, shot and other 19th- to 21st-century material. The only archaeological objects found were a local militia button and a copper alloy chape.
The militia button is in poor condition and measures 17mm in diameter. It is domed in form and is missing a wire loop for attaching the button to clothing. Decoration on the outer convex surface includes a crown in the centre bordered with the text ‘IVERK INFANTRY’ above and below the crown. This button is likely to be associated with a local volunteer militia formed during the latter part of the 18th century.
The copper alloy chape or ferrule is 21mm long, 10mm wide and 4mm high. It tapers from the opening to a spherical ball (knop) at its terminal. There are two opposed holes with diameters of 2-3mm, in the sides approximately 8mm from the opening, for threading a lace or to accommodate rivets to attach to an organic object. The artefact is formed from a folded sheet of copper alloy that is only soldered together near the knop. The knop itself is likely soldered on to the body but it is not possible to state this with certainty. A chape is the metal end of a scabbard and, if the artefact is a chape, then the small size of this example suggests it is from the scabbard of a small-bladed weapon, such as a dagger. It was found in the same field as the charcoal-production pit. Similar chapes have been found in England and Wales, where they are dated to the later medieval period or earlier post-medieval period. The Battle of Piltown took place in the vicinity of the road scheme in 1462 and it is possible that the chape derived from that conflict.

Ahish, Ballinruan, Crusheen, Co. Clare