County: Kilkenny Site name: Kilree, Stoneyford
Sites and Monuments Record No.: KK027-044010 & KK027-044011 Licence number: 22E0518
Author: Michael Greiner & Seán Shanahan; Shanarc Archaeology Ltd.
Site type: Pits, stone wall, possible kiln
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 649737m, N 640969m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.517822, -7.267173
Archaeological test excavations were carried out on 2 September 2002, in association with the proposed subdivision of a c. 0.34-hectare portion of a larger c. 0.88-hectare agricultural field at Kilree, Stoneyford, Co. Kilkenny. The landowner is considering subdividing the 0.34-hectare road frontage site into possibly two plots, and selling the resulting plots as sites for private residential development.
The wider c.0.88-hectare field contains two recorded monuments, enclosures KK027-044010 and KK027-044011; while these monuments are located outside the area under consideration for potential development, their associated zone of archaeological potential/zone of notification covers the majority of the proposed development area. In addition to the two enclosures, Kilree ecclesiastical complex, a registered National Monument (NM# 76) comprising multiple RMP sites, is located c. 45m to the west of the area under consideration for sale and potential development.
The c.0.34-hectare subject site formed part of a geophysical survey covering the wider c.0.88-hectare field, which was carried out by Shanarc Archaeology Ltd. under licence no. 22R0199, to address the sites archaeological potential. The results of the survey suggested the presence of potential archaeological features in the subject site.
Four test trenches were excavated at the subject site; the test trench array was selected to (a) target a sample of the anomalies interpreted as potential archaeology in the geophysical survey results and (b) to examine ‘quiet’ areas of the geophysical survey at the subject site.
The stratigraphy of the excavated material was consistent across all trenches, comprising a topsoil layer, c.0.2m in depth, of mid-brown, moderately compact sandy silt with a moderate amount of small-sized, and occasional medium-sized, sub-rounded stones. Below the topsoil, the subsoil comprised a compact light yellow-brown sandy silt with a moderate amount of small-sized sub-rounded stones.
No archaeological features, deposits or objects were found in Trenches 3 & 4, sited to the eastern side of the site; however, four archaeological features were exposed in Trench 2, one of which was located at the intersection of Trench 2 with Trench 1, to the south-west part of the site. The archaeological features identified in Trench 2 appear to correspond to the locations of the three westernmost geophysical anomalies identified in the geophysical survey, and specifically targeted by the relevant test trench; smaller geophysical anomalies targeted by the other test trenches produced no evidence of archaeological activity.
Feature 1 was located at the western end of Trench 1, and comprised an oblong-shaped pit measuring 1.8m (north-south) by 1.12m. The fill comprised a light brown, moderately compact sandy silt. A modest amount of small-sized sub-rounded stones were noted within the fill, including occasional flecks of charcoal.
Feature 2, situated approximately 2.5m to the east of Feature 1, was an oblong pit containing compact, dark brown/black charcoal-rich fill with occasional small sized sub-angular stones. The feature measured 1.6m (north-south) by 3.1m. Evidence of in situ burning (scorched clay) along the east and north-east edges of the feature was evident. This feature could potentially be a kiln.
Feature 3 was a linear stone wall foundation measuring 4.9m (east-west) by 0.85m max. extending from the baulk close to where Feature 2 was situated. It was possible to see several of the stones associated with the first course of the wall in the south-facing section face to the north of Feature 2. During cleaning of the feature at the east end, two pieces of pottery were noted, one a fragment of a thin red fabric (possibly Leinster Cooking Ware), the other a fragment of a glazed, white rim or handle of post-medieval pottery.
Feature 4 was located at the intersection of Trenches 1 & 2, though primarily within Trench 2, this feature comprised an irregular-shaped cut, possibly a pit, slightly oblong measuring 1.95m (east-west) by 2.1m. The fill comprised a mid-brown, moderately compact sandy silt with a moderate amount of charcoal flecks and occasional small-sized stones.
Unit 39a, Hebron Business Park, Hebron Road, Kilkenny
