County: Kilkenny Site name: Lousybush
Sites and Monuments Record No.: KK019-007--- Licence number: 22E0547
Author: Padraig Dunne
Site type: Prehistoric Landscape
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 649403m, N 657184m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.663582, -7.269675
Archaeological excavations at Lousybush townland targeted potential archaeological features identified during the original programme of archaeological test trenching in March 2022 under excavation licence 22E0154 and detection device licence 22R0067. This programme of investigation identified three distinct areas of archaeological activity (Sites 01-03). Site 01 contained within the confines of its boundary a known recorded archaeological monument (ring-ditch KK019-007----). A subsequent Archaeological Impact Assessment of this site involving a strip map and evaluation was conducted prior to the full excavation being granted an archaeological licence by the National Monuments Service.
During the excavation a total of 16 features of archaeological significance were identified including two ring-ditches, including KK019-007----, 12 pits, one post-medieval boundary wall and one linear ditch feature.
Excavation of Site 02 identified a burnt mound, eight troughs, seven pits, twelve stake-holes and one post-hole.
Excavation of Site 03 identified a possible prehistoric structure most likely a sweat lodge/sauna, with internal hearths, pits and post-holes. Externally, a cluster of post-holes was located at the western end of the structure, which is believed to be its entrance, and a parallel northeast and southwest alignment of stake-holes and post-holes extending west-east from the entrance possibly representing an annex. Adjacent to the structure and annex feature were one burnt spread, two linear ditches, four troughs - two of which were associated with stake-hole alignments - and three pits.
Fifteen radiocarbon dates were analysed from Lousybush, Co. Kilkenny. Environmental samples were derived from pits, ditches, troughs, burnt spreads a post-hole and stake-hole. Radiocarbon dating shows the sites were in use during the Early Bronze Age, the Late Bronze Age, the Iron Age and the Early Medieval period. Nine native Irish tree and shrub taxa were identified from wood taxa. Oak is the dominant taxon followed by ash, hazel and pomaceous fruitwood. Also, present are ivy, holly, blackthorn/cherry, willow and elm. Finds recovered from Lousybush included a small lithic assemblage from Sites 02 and 03 which including a small leaf-shaped projectile point and two flint flakes, a sherd of Early Bronze Age funeral pottery from Site 02 and ferrous metalwork from Site 01.
c/o John Cronin & Associates
