2024:684 - Smithstown, Kilkenny

In October 2024, a test excavation was carried out at a site in Smithstown, Co. Kilkenny. Just under 100 test trenches were excavated across the site to determine the nature of anomalies that were detected in a previously carried out geophysical survey (24R0389).
The topsoil and subsoil generally had an average depth of 0.3m to 0.4m across the site. It was a firm, mid-greyish brown silt clay with occasional small sub-angular stones. The predominant type of natural on the site was a compact, mid-brownish orange silt clay with occasional to frequent small to medium sub-angular stones. The bedrock geology was often encountered in the areas of the site with this kind of natural. In the south-east portion of the site, the natural was a compact, brownish-grey clay. This part of the site was flat, and a number of stone-filled land drains were encountered here.
An intact burnt mound was found in the western portion of the site. The mound was visible as a 9m arc of burnt stone and charcoal along the base of a trench, and it consisted of small sub-angular burnt stones, charcoal, and dark-stained soil. Nearby to the burnt mound, in another trench, two small pits were found. They measured 0.5m by 0.5m and were filled with small, sub-angular burnt stones and charcoal. They are very likely to be associated with the burnt mound.
The main discovery during this test excavation was several ring ditches and cremation burials or pits that were located on a ridge in the north-western part of the site (Field 1 and Field 2). These were picked up in the geophysical survey with test trenches confirming their existence. Five ring ditches were identified as a result of testing. The cut of the ditches averaged 1m in width, and they were filled with a compact, mid-greyish brown silty clay with frequent small sub-angular stones. They ranged in size from 5m to 12m in diameter. No traces of charcoal or burnt bone could be seen in the fills of the ditches. No internal features were spotted within the ring ditches either. Some isolated (although more than likely within a ring ditch) cremation burials and pits were found. They averaged 0.2m by 0.2m or 0.3m by 0.4m in size and were filled with a compact, dark, blackish-brown silty clay. Some small flecks of burnt bone were visible in these features. One of them
contained the remains of a pottery vessel, very likely an urn. It measured 0.15m in diameter and had an orange exterior and black interior. Flecks of burnt bone could be seen within the vessel.
The very faint traces of a burnt mound were found in the eastern part of the site. It appeared as an area of blackened topsoil/subsoil with frequent small angular stones. The area had been extensively ploughed, and the burnt mound had been removed over time. Evidence of modern agricultural activity, root action and land drainage were found in many of the trenches.