N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny Archaeological Consultancy Services

15E0567, Raheenapisha 1

Stage (iv) Final Archaeological Excavation Report

for

Kilkenny County Council

Director Graham Hull

Author Graham Hull TVAS Ireland Ltd

J15/17

November 2016

ITM 648345 651820

N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny Archaeological Consultancy Services 15E0567, Raheenapisha 1

Stage (iv) Final Archaeological Excavation Report

for

Kilkenny County Council

Director Graham Hull

Author Graham Hull TVAS Ireland Ltd

Job J15/17

November 2016 N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny, 15E0567, Raheenapisha 1

Summary

Scheme name: N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny

Site name: Raheenapisha 1, Co. Kilkenny

Licence number: 15E0567

Townland: Raheenapisha

Parish: Castleinch or Inchyolaghan

Barony: Shillelogher

County: Kilkenny

ITM: 648345 651820

OS 6” Sheet No: Co. Kilkenny Sheet 23

Chainage: 3475

Client: Kilkenny County Council

Naturally occurring geology: The topsoil is a light brown silty clay with a depth of up to 0.50 m. It lies over a bright yellowish brown mottled with dark brown gritty clay natural subsoil with very frequent stone and pebble inclusions (glacial till).

TVAS Ireland Job No: J15/17

Licenced Director: Graham Hull

Report author: Graham Hull

Site activity: Excavation

Site area: 466 m2

Date of fieldwork: 26th November to 11th December 2015 and 30th March to 1st April 2016

Date of report: November 2016

Summary of results: Excavation revealed an early medieval cereal drying kiln, an early medieval field boundary ditch, a pit that pre-dated the kiln, a pit possibly associated with the kiln and a post-medieval ditch.

Monuments identified: Early medieval kiln, ditch and pits, post-medieval ditch

Location and reference of archive: The primary records (written, drawn and photographic) are currently held at TVAS Ireland Ltd, Ahish, Ballinruan, Crusheen, Co. Clare and will be registered and deposited with the National Monuments Service facility in Swords, Co. Dublin.

This report may be copied for bona fide research or planning purposes without the explicit permission of the copyright holder

Report edited/checked by: Kate Taylor√ November 2016

N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny, 15E0567, Raheenapisha 1

Contents

Abstract 1 Introduction 1 Project background 1 Location, topography and geology 2 Archaeological and historical background 3 Cartographic sources 3 Record of Monuments and Places / Sites and Monuments Record 3 The Excavations database 4 Archaeological work undertaken as part of the current scheme 4 Earlier test excavations 5 Excavation aims and methodology 6 Excavation results 6 Phase 1 – Undated 7 Phase 2 – Early medieval 7 Phase 3 – Early medieval 9 Phase 4 – Post-medieval 10 Finds 10 Post-medieval pottery by Gordana Baljkas 10 Animal bone by Natasia Duhau 11 Samples 11 Archaeobotanical analysis by Susan Lyons 11 Radiocarbon dating 17 Discussion 18 Archaeological potential off the road CPO 20 Recommendations and further work 20 Fieldwork 20 Record of Monuments and Places / Sites and Monuments Record 20 Post-excavation 20 Publication and dissemination plan 20 References 21 Appendices Appendix 1: Catalogue of features and deposits Appendix 2: Catalogue of finds Appendix 3: Catalogue of samples Appendix 4: Archive contents Figures Figure 1: Scheme and site location on OS Discovery Series Map Figure 2: Scheme layout and site location Figure 3: Location of site on 1st edition OS Map 1839 Figure 4: Location of site on 2nd edition OS Map 1900 Figure 5: Location of site on Record of Monuments and Places Map Figure 6: Site location and geophysical survey Figure 7: Site plan (overview) Figure 8: Plan of western part of site Figure 9: Plan of central part of site Figure 10: Plan of eastern part of site (mid-excavation plan of kiln) Figure 11: Plan of eastern part of site (post-excavation plan of kiln) Figure 12: Sections Figure 13: Percentage of plant macrofossil remains Figure 14: Total charcoal identifications Plates Plate 1: Ditch 5, slot 8, pit 9 at right. Looking east. Scales 1.00 m and 0.50 m Plate 2: Ditch 5, slot 3. Looking west. Scales 1.00 m

N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny, 15E0567, Raheenapisha 1

Plate 3: Ditch 5, slot 10. Looking east. Scale 1.00 m Plate 4: Kiln 4. Partially excavated. Looking north-east. Scales 1.00 m Plate 5: Kiln 4. Partially excavated. Looking south-west. Scales 1.00 m Plate 6: Relationship between ditch 5, a lot 6 (left) and kiln 4 (right). Looking north-west. Scales 1.00 m Plate 7: Pit 1. Half-sectioned. Looking east. Scales 1.00 m and 0.20 m Plate 8: Ditch 5 (left) and ditch 11 (right). Looking south-west. Scales 1.00 m, 0.50 m and 0.20 m

N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny, 15E0567, Raheenapisha 1

N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny 15E0567, Raheenapisha 1, Co. Kilkenny Stage (iv) Final Archaeological Excavation Report

Graham Hull

Abstract

Raheenapisha 1, 15E0567, was located on the proposed N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny (ITM 648345 651820). The site was revealed during test trenching in 2015 and was excavated under the direction of Graham Hull of TVAS (Ireland) Ltd in November to December 2015 and March to April 2016. The site encompassed an area of 466 m2 and was situated in a pasture field. The excavation revealed an early medieval cereal drying kiln, a likely early medieval field boundary ditch and pit that pre-dated the kiln, a pit possibly associated with the kiln and a post-medieval ditch. Charred plant remains retrieved from soil samples taken from the kiln, pits and ditches were analysed. Oat-rich cereals had been dried in the kiln before it was cleaned and then abandoned. Three radiocarbon determinations were obtained indicating that the ditch was dug in the 11th century AD or earlier and the kiln was in use in the 11th or 12th centuries AD. The archaeological deposits were fully excavated within the excavation area, however the medieval ditch extends outside the CPO to the east and (potentially) beneath the existing road to the west. The ditches were examined by means of hand- dug slots. The excavated area was backfilled and reinstated.

Introduction

This report documents the final results of the archaeological excavation of an early medieval kiln, two ditches and two pits at Raheenapisha 1 (15E0567), on the route of the N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny (ITM 648345 651820) (Fig. 1). The excavation described here forms part of the N76 Callan Road Realignment Archaeological Consultancy Services Contract.

The National Monuments Act 1930 (as amended) provides the legislative framework within which archaeological excavation can take place and the following government publications set out many of the procedures relating to planning/development and archaeology:

Framework and Principles for the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage (DAHGI 1999a)

Policy and Guidelines on Archaeological Excavation (DAHGI 1999b)

Code of Practice between the National Roads Authority and the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (NRA/MAHGI 2000)

The archaeological work was carried under archaeological licence.

Project background

The N76 is a National Secondary route linking Kilkenny to Clonmel via the town of Callan, which was bypassed in the 1990s. Kilkenny County Council proposes to realign part of this road between the urban area of Kilkenny City and the townland of Brownstown, Co. Kilkenny (Figs 1-2).

In relation to traffic calming measures, Kilkenny County Council wishes to develop proposals for providing traffic calming along the northern section of the route in order to reduce vehicle speed and improve the facilities for vulnerable road users. This can be achieved by reducing the road width, providing footpath/cycle facilities on the eastern side of the N76 and installing route lighting where required. Improvements along the southern portion of the route will entail a circa 3.5 km realignment

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N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny, 15E0567, Raheenapisha 1 and replacing the existing Tinnypark crossroads (junction between N76 and local road L2630) in Derdimus with a staggered crossroads. This section of the route has a poor collision history due to its substandard alignment and poor forward visibility as well as a high volume of traffic.

An attenuation pond is to be constructed within a greenfield location to the south of the Breagagh River in Goslingstown and an underpass is to be built crossing the N76 between Brownstown and Rathaleek townlands.

Under the Planning and Development Regulations, a Part 8 procedure was required for the development. The Part 8 Planning was adopted by Kilkenny County Council Resolution in April 2007.

The archaeological component of this project was funded by Kilkenny County Council.

Location, topography and geology

Archaeological site 15E0567, Raheenapisha 1 was located at ITM 648345 651820 in Raheenapisha townland, parish of Castleinch or Inchyolaghan, barony of Shillelogher, Co. Kilkenny (Figs 1 and 2).

The section of the scheme for which traffic calming measures are proposed commences in the urban area of Kilkenny City, 300 m south-west of the Callan Road roundabout on the Kilkenny Ring Road. It continues in a south-westerly fashion for 1.2 km to the junction with the local road LS6695. The proposed realignment section commences at the latter junction with the local road and extends for a little over three kilometres to the south-west, terminating in the townland of Brownstown.

The proposed scheme will traverse the townlands of Wetland, Margaret’s Fields, Archersleas, Shellumsrath, Derdimus, Goslingstown, Parkmore, Raheenapisha, Rathaleek and Brownstown (ITM 647772 651112 to 649185 653984) (Figs 1-2).

The area of the archaeological services contract lies within the Lands Made Available (LMA) of the proposed scheme as contained within the area to be acquired by Kilkenny County Council. The total area subject to Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) for the N76 Callan Road realignment project is approximately 11.75 hectares of which the Lands Made Available for the present archaeological works is approximately 6.38 hectares.

The land on which the proposed realignment will be constructed is currently used for agricultural purposes. Pasture is the dominant land use; however, occasional tillage fields are found in Parkmore, Goslingstown and Archersleas townlands.

Upper Carboniferous Limestone dominates the bedrock geology of the scheme location area and the subsoil forming a layer over this solid geology consists of Diamictons derived from Lower Carboniferous Limestone (Kilkenny Co. Co. 2014). Specifically in this area the bedrock comprises shaly fossiliferous and oolitic limestone of the Durrow Formation (www.gsi.ie). The scheme location area contains very fertile soils and has been named the ‘golden vein’ of the county. Grey Brown Podzolic soils derived from calcareous glacial drift deposits dominate the area with a great depth of coverage. They provide some of the best soils in Ireland, which are excellent for grassland and also for the production of a wide range of vegetable crops (Kilkenny Co. Co. 2014).

The area of works lies between approximately 68 m and 83 m above Ordnance Datum (OD) and at Raheenapisha 1 the archaeological deposits lay at approximately 78 m to 79 m OD, sloping down gently to the west. The land use at Raheenapisha 1 was pasture and the observed natural geology was glacial till (clay with stones).

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N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny, 15E0567, Raheenapisha 1

Archaeological and historical background

A search of documentary and cartographic sources was made. Information was gathered from, amongst other sources, the Sites and Monuments Record (SMR), Record of Monuments and Places (RMP) files, The National Monument Service website www.archaeology.ie, the Excavations database and publications (www.excavations.ie and Bennett 1987-2012) and from the Architectural, Archaeological and Cultural Heritage Report for the scheme (Kelly 2015).

The townland name Raheenapisha comes from the Irish Ráithín na Pise from ráithín ‘small ring-fort’ and pise ‘peas’. The townland’s first mention dates from 1800-1838 as Raheenpish. O’Kelly translates the townland name as ‘little rath of the pease or vetches’ (www.logainm.ie; O’Kelly 1985).

Cartographic sources

The 1st edition Ordnance Survey (OS) map of 1839 (Fig. 3) shows the Kilkenny to Callan Road orientated from south-west to north-east. Relatively large fields border the road and the location of the site is within one of these fields.

The 2nd edition OS map of 1900 (Fig. 4) shows only some minor changes from the earlier map with the alteration of some field boundaries.

The 3rd edition OS map of 1924 (with overlying 1996 SMR) (Fig. 5) shows very little change from the earlier maps

Record of Monuments and Places / Sites and Monuments Record

There are nineteen archaeological sites listed in the Sites and Monuments Record in the immediate vicinity of the road scheme (www.archaeology.ie; Fig. 5; Table 1).

Table 1: Record of Monuments within 2 km of road scheme

Townland Ref. No Site Type Date Castleblunden KK019-031 Enclosure Possible medieval Castleblunden KK010-032 17th c house and enclosure 17th c and possible medieval Drakeland Middle KK019-033 Enclosure Possible medieval Castleinch or Inchyolaghan KK019-038 Horizontal water mill Possible medieval Goslingstown KK019-039 Castle - Tower House Medieval Clonmoran KK019-084 Dwelling Possible post-medieval Castleblunden KK019-107 Cremated remains Prehistoric Castleinch or Inchyolaghan KK019-108 Fulacht fia Prehistoric Reviewfields KK019-138 Enclosure Possible medieval Castleinch or Inchyolaghan KK023-002 Castle Medieval Castleinch or Inchyolaghan KK023-003 Church, graveyard, wall Medieval and post-medieval monument, effigial tomb Parkmore KK023-004 Enclosure Possible medieval Raheenapisha KK023-005 Enclosure Possible medieval Rathaleek KK023-006 Enclosure Possible medieval Raheenapisha KK023-007 Moated site Possible medieval Knocklegan KK023-008 Standing stone Prehistoric Kilmog or Racecourse KK023-009 Church, holy well, holy Medieval and post-medieval tree/bush, graveyard, bullaun stone Kilmog or Racecourse KK023-010 Ringfort Medieval Inchyolaghan (Shillelogher By.) KK023-035 Enclosure Possible medieval

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N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny, 15E0567, Raheenapisha 1

While none of the recorded monuments listed above were impacted directly by the proposed scheme, two are located within the close proximity to the proposed scheme, namely enclosures in Parkmore (KK023-004----) and Raheenapisha townlands (KK023-005---). The zone of archaeological potential surrounding these monuments was impacted.

The Parkmore enclosure (KK023-004----) is depicted on both First and Second Edition Ordnance Survey maps as a circular enclosure measuring approximately 40-50 m in diameter. During a field survey carried out in April 2007 a low bank was noted demarcating the site of this enclosure. As this monument is located approximately 185 m from the proposed road realignment scheme, the area between chainages 2940 and 3140 was highlighted as an area of archaeological potential (Kelly 2015, 12-13).

The Raheenapisha enclosure (KK023-005---) is not depicted on either the First or Second Edition of the Ordnance Survey maps. However, it has been identified from an aerial photograph (DoEHLG, Aerial Photograph CUCAP: AV: 77, 1968) as a single cropmark. A field survey carried out in April 2007 recorded no visible remains of the enclosure site; however, a low plateau was noted at this location with good panoramic views. Additionally, a kink in the existing N76 road and a low plateau with good panoramic views was noted approximately 200 m from the monument site between chainages 3460 and 3720. These features were concluded to be indicative of potential settlement activity and the location was therefore highlighted as an area of archaeological potential. There will be a direct impact on the zone of archaeological potential surrounding enclosure KK023-005---- between chainages 3140 and 3460 and 3460 and 3620 (Kelly 2015, 12).

The Excavations database

The results of archaeological investigations in Ireland are published in summary form in Excavations (Bennett 1987-2012) and online at www.excavations.ie. A search of the database was made for the townlands of Wetland, Margaret’s Fields, Archersleas, Shellumsrath, Derdimus, Goslingstown, Parkmore, Raheenapisha, Rathaleek and Brownstown.

The search returned two entries within a 1 km radius from the proposed road realignment scheme. The first of the entries refers to the archaeological field work carried out in the townland of Wetlands in 2004 (Rogers 2004; 04E0652). Moore Ltd conducted archaeological test trenching in advance of residential development. Two features of archaeological potential were noted within the site. Both appeared on the ground as gentle dips within an arable field and both appeared on the First Edition OS map as depressions. The investigation concluded that both features were former gravel pits, one of which was used as a rubbish tip in the mid-20th century.

The second entry refers to archaeological monitoring of a Bord Gáis Éireann gas pipeline from Baunlusk to Ballyconra townlands, Co. Kilkenny, carried out by Margaret Gowen and Co. Ltd. between July and September 1999 under licence number 99E0388. In the process, one site was discovered in Parkmore townland, Parkmore 1, a fulacht fia consisting of a burnt mound over 12 m long and 6 m wide, possibly orientated east-west, running into the south and west baulks. The site is in the northern corner of the field. Five individual isolated pit or post-hole features were also revealed, which represent either outlying features of further archaeological sites or isolated activity. The site was backfilled, fenced off and avoided by development (ITM 648002 651728, 77.41 m OD) (Stevens 1999). According to the grid reference, this site lies in the field to the west of the road realignment scheme at a distance of approximately 200 m.

Archaeological work undertaken as part of the current scheme

A geophysical survey was undertaken at two locations (Areas 1 and 2) within the scheme which had been identified as being of particular archaeological potential due to their proximity to known monuments and the banks of a river (Leigh 2007).

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N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny, 15E0567, Raheenapisha 1

In summary, the survey adjacent to the Breagagh River (Area 1) identified isolated responses of archaeological strength and several possible ditched boundary divisions or field drains. No clear archaeological pattern was evident but plough damaged archaeological remains were thought to be represented.

The area adjacent to enclosure KK023-005 (Area 2), covered several fields and was therefore sub- divided (Fig. 6). Survey within areas 2A and 2B revealed a short ditch-type response, possibly representing a field drain or boundary, and a curvilinear response of potential interest. The curvilinear response was thought to represent a significant boundary division. The survey responses in Areas 2C and 2D clearly identified the remains of the enclosure site (KK023:005), consisting of an inner D- shaped ditched enclosure, with responses suggestive of habitation features. There is a second, outer ditch which shadows the inner enclosure, and forms an annex to the north, meeting a further ditched feature to the north-east. The responses suggest habitation activity, with areas of burning and the remains of burnt features such as hearths and possible kilns or furnaces. Weak responses in the west were thought to represent the ephemeral remains of an associated ditched feature, possibly another annex of the site, although this is speculative. South-east of the enclosure site, in Areas 2E and 2F, parallel linear trends were considered indicative of ploughing activity and ridge and furrow cultivation may be represented here. In Area 2F a curvilinear response and an area of increased magnetic response were considered to be of interest, perhaps representing a ditched archaeological feature or a spread of burnt material. Archaeological interpretation was unclear as the results were confused by magnetic disturbance from the existing N76 road.

The geophysical survey covered a wider area than is now included in the road realignment project. The main features associated with enclosure KK023-005 will be avoided by the development, however outlying features lay within the test trenching area and the potential features adjacent to the river were also targeted by the test trenches.

Archaeological test trenching was carried out in October-November 2015 under licence 15E0464 (Hull 2015). The test trenches were excavated by 8 tonne and 13 tonne tracked excavators and a JCB- type machine and trenches were typically 1.8 m wide. On completion of fieldwork the total area investigated was 8,063.05 m², a 12.6% sample of the 63,773 m² LMA.

In addition to Raheenapisha 1, four other sites were found during the testing:

Goslingtown 1, (Hull 2015; 2016a) consisted of a single undated pit. Additional trenches excavated nearby elicited no other associated features. This feature was resolved in Stage (i) testing, 15E0464.

Parkmore 1, 15E0568, (Hull 2016b) consisted of three pits, dated to the Bronze Age

Raheenapisha 2, 15E0569 (Hull 2016c) consisted of three Bronze Age roundhouses and a curvilinear ditch from the same period.

Raheenapisha 3, 15E0578 (Hull 2016d) consisted of a single undated pit. This feature was resolved in Stage (i) testing.

Earlier test excavations

Raheenapisha 1, 15E0567 was identified during centre-line and offset testing of the road route (Hull 2015) and at the time appeared to consist of a kiln and a pit. An area measuring 6.70 m by 5.80 m was opened around the kiln and no other archaeological features except the pit were revealed.

The kiln was characterised by a circular bowl/chamber defined by small stones and oxidised soil with a diameter of approximately 1.20 m and an associated flue that was orientated from south-west to north-east. The flue was truncated at the south-west by a field boundary ditch and had an observed

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N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny, 15E0567, Raheenapisha 1 length of approximately 3.35 m, giving an overall surviving length for the kiln of 4.55 m. The flue narrowed from approximately 0.90 m wide to approximately 0.35 m wide at the junction with the bowl/chamber. The fill was light brown to oxidised pinkish red silty clay with frequent small to medium sized stones. A test slot dug into the bowl/chamber suggested a surviving depth of 0.25 m.

Approximately 0.60 m to the north of the kiln was a possible pit. This possible pit was circular with a diameter of approximately 0.80 m and the fill was light brown silty clay with occasional small to medium-sized stones.

The field boundary ditch that appeared to truncate the end of the ditch was considered to be post- medieval in date.

Excavation aims and methodology

The aims of the excavation were to:

1) Preserve by record all archaeological deposits and features within the excavation area 2) Produce a high quality report of the findings

The fieldwork took place between 26th November and 11th December 2015 and between 30th March and 1st April 2016 and was directed by Graham Hull, supervised by Kate Taylor and aided by four assistants.

The excavation area was irregular in plan and covered an area of 466 m2. The site encompassed an area centred on the kiln with an extension to the west to capture the full extents of the early medieval ditch where it lay within the lands acquired for the purposes of scheme construction. Topsoil was removed by a 13 tonne tracked mechanical excavator fitted with 6-foot (1.8 m) toothless grading bucket and operated under direct and continuous archaeological supervision. The spoil was visually scanned for artefacts.

The archaeological features were excavated by hand.

A full written, drawn and photographic record was made according to the TVAS Ireland Field Recording Manual (First Edition 2003). The site was tied into the National Grid using a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit.

Excavation results (Figs 7-12, Plates 1-8)

The excavation has revealed evidence of at least four phases of activity. An undated pit was cut by a likely early medieval ditch that was in turn cut by an early medieval cereal-drying kiln. A post- medieval ditch was also recorded.

All features and contexts are listed in Appendix 1.

The topsoil (50) was light brown silty clay with a depth of up to 0.50 m. It overlay bright yellowish brown mottled with dark brown gritty clay natural subsoil (51) with very frequent stone and pebble inclusions (glacial till).

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N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny, 15E0567, Raheenapisha 1

Phase 1 - Undated

Pit (Figs 7-8 and 12; Plate 1)

Pit 9 was found towards the western end of the site and was cut by the likely early medieval ditch 5 on its northern side (see below). The pit was partially truncated by machine during topsoil stripping. The pit was oval in plan, measured approximately 2.70 m by 1.70 m and was 0.60 m deep with steeply sloping sides and a concave base. There were three fills (78-80). The primary fill (80) was fairly firm mixed yellowish brown gritty clayey silt with occasional gravel and stone inclusions and was 0.24 m thick. The secondary fill (79) was seen only along the southern edge of pit 9 and was 0.39 m thick. This deposit was firmly compact mid greyish brown silty clay with lots of stone, mostly rounded cobbles. The final fill (78) was fairly firm mid orangish brown clayey silt with occasional stone inclusions and was 0.39 m thick.

Phase 2 – Early medieval

Field boundary ditch (Figs 7-12, Plates 1-3, 6 and 8)

Ditch 5 was aligned east to west and was recorded for a length of approximately 40 m within the CPO. The ditch corresponds with an anomaly identified in the earlier geophysical survey (Fig. 6). Six slots were hand-dug across the ditch and these are described in Table 2. The ditch was typically steep sided with a 'V' shaped profile and became shallower and flatter-based to the west. Ditch 5 ranged in width from 1.40 m to 1.78 m and ranged in depth from 0.44 m (west) to 1.01 m (east). At the west a possible recut was observed (in slot 10). This possible recut truncated the original fill of the ditch (82) and comprised a broad U-shaped cut with gradually sloping sides containing one fill (81). This potential recut was only observed in one location at the western end of the site where the overlying hedge had caused disturbance of the ditch fills and may therefore simply represent root disturbance rather than deliberate human action.

Ditch 5 truncated pit 9 and was itself partially truncated by north to south aligned ditch 11 at the west. Kiln 4 was cut into the partially filled ditch 5 and was sealed by the upper ditch fill (70).

A small amount of identifiable charcoal from the ditch was of ash (slot 3) and hazel (slot 7). Charred cereal grains were also recovered from the ditch fills in slots 3 and 7, with the largest assemblage from the lower fill of slot 7. The cereals were predominantly oat, with some barley and a small number of wheat grains.

The primary fill (74) of slot 7 probably pre-dated Kiln 4 (see Phase 3) and a charred oat grain from the fill returned a radiocarbon determination of cal. AD 1016-1154 (UBA-32414, 971±31 BP) indicating that the ditch was open by the 11th - 12th century AD. The secondary ditch fill (73) of slot 7 probably post-dated the kiln and a charred barley grain produced a radiocarbon determination of cal. AD 909- 1151 (UBA-32413, 1013±33 BP), also in the 11th to 12th centuries AD. These two dates, from lower and upper fills could be contemporary and indeed could relate to the kiln (see below), suggesting that either the ditch was infilled over a short period of time or that some mixing of deposits occurred.

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N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny, 15E0567, Raheenapisha 1

Table 2: Description of slots in ditch 5

Note that fills are listed stratigraphically from earliest to latest

Slot Fills Width Depth Length Description No. (m) (m) (m) 2 65, 54, 1.50 0.76 0.40 'V' shaped profile with concave base. 64, 53 65: firm and sticky, mid orangish brown with some iron pan, slightly silty clay, some rounded stones, occasional charcoal, 0.76 m thick. 54: compact, dark brown silty clay, very frequent stone inclusions (0.05-0.15m diameter), 0.26 m thick. 64: very compact, mid yellow, mottled with orange, silty clay, gritty with frequent small stones. Possible redeposited natural – sterile, 0.08 m thick 53: moderately compact, dark brown mottled, clayey silt with charcoal flecks and frequent pebbles, 0.35 m thick 3 72, 56, 1.64 0.89 2.46 'V' shaped profile with concave base. 55 72: very compact, light orange clay, 0.20 m thick, washed in natural material on southern ditch edge. 56: firmly compact, dark reddish brown, silty clay, frequent small stones and charcoal flecks, 0.49 m thick. 55: firmly compact, light orangish brown, silty clay, occasional stones, 0.41 m thick. 6 66, 67, 1.68 1.01 1.85 Steeply concave sides, base flat. 68, 69, 66: firmly compact, mid grey and yellow, silty clay, gritty, small 70 and rounded stones, 0.10 m thick. 67: firmly compact and sticky, mid orangish brown with orange mottling, slightly silty clay, few rounded stones andoccasional charcoal, 0.95 m thick. 68: very firmly compact, mid grey and yellow with orange mottling, silty clay, frequent gravel and small stones, possible redeposited natural, 0.18 m thick. 69: firmly compact, mid yellow, silty clay, small stones, possible redeposited natural, 0.04 m thick. 70: moderately compact, dark brown mottled grey, clayey silt, occasional rounded stones, occasional charcoal, 0.30 m thick. Overlay kiln 7 74, 73 1.45 0.70 2.25 Steep sides, steeper towards base, and concave base. 74: firmly compact, light orangish brown, silty clay, some charcoal and stones, 0.30 m thick. 73: moderately compact, mid greyish brown, silty sandy clay, frequent stones and charcoal flecks, 0.40 m thick. 8 77, 76, 1.10- 0.82 2.55 'V' shaped, steeply sloping at N, but more moderately sloping at 75 1.40 (E) S. 0.52 77: loosely compact, orangish brown, clay, frequent large (W) cobbles, 0.28 m thick. 76: firmly compact, pale to mottled mid yellowish brown, silty clay, occasional gravel inclusions, 0.52 m thick. 75: fairly firmly compact, mid greyish brown, clayey silt, occasional stones, 0.25 m thick. 10 82, 81 1.78 0.44 3.50 Steeply concave sides and concave base. Steeper at the N, perhaps a recut in this area. 82: firmly compact, sticky/gritty, mixed yellow, brown grey, silty clay, gravel and large cobble inclusions, 0.39 m thick. 81: fairly compact, mid greyish brown, clayey silt, occasional charcoal, 0.42 m thick. Fill of possible recut

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N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny, 15E0567, Raheenapisha 1

Phase 3 – Early medieval

Kiln (Figs 7 and 10-12, Plates 4-7)

Kiln 4 was keyhole shaped. The circular chamber was at the north-east with a diameter of 1.20 m and was 0.20 m deep. The sides of the chamber were near vertical with a partial stone lining surviving on the east, and the base was flat. The flue widened from the junction with the chamber (width 0.36 m) to a globular fire bowl at the south-west (width 1.05 m) and there was no clear distinction between the two elements. The flue had near-vertical sides, whereas the sides of the fire bowl appeared more gradually sloping, and both had slightly concave bases. The flue and fire bowl were typically 0.25 m deep and together were 3.40 m long. Stone lining was present in places in the flue on both sides and some possible collapsed cap stones were observed. The fire bowl of kiln 4 was set into the partially infilled ditch 5 (slot 6) at the south-west end, on top of deposits 68 and 69, and was subsequently sealed by upper ditch fill 70. Immediately beneath the kiln deposits, within the ditch, was a thin lens of redeposited natural material (69) that was probably waste from the excavation of the kiln, spread into the partially filled ditch during construction. A large stone in the ditch fill at the end of the kiln (Fig. 12, Plate 6) could have been deliberately placed and functioned as part of the kiln operations.

The kiln chamber was filled with deposit 57. This was firmly compacted and sticky clay that was mid brown in colour and was oxidised reddish orange in places with occasional charcoal inclusions. Some angular and rounded stones were present (in the order of 0.30 m by 0.15 m by 0.15 m). These were likely ex situ limestone and fine-grained sandstone chamber lining. In situ stone lining (62) was seen at the east side of the chamber for a length of 1.15 m. The stones were up to 0.35 m long and somewhat irregular in shape.

At the junction between the drying chamber and the flue, the fills of the two kiln elements appeared to abut each other vertically. It is likely that, rather than indicating two intercutting features, this unusual arrangement resulted from the flue fills having originally rested against an object such as a stone or piece of timber that was subsequently removed or rotted away.

The flue and fire bowl had six fills (59-63 and 71). One of the primary fills (61) was fairly compact, dark red silty clay at the base and sides of the flue, along almost its entire length and width. This deposit, which was 0.03-0.05 m thick, provides evidence of in situ oxidisation of the natural geology that was more intense at the south-west. The secondary fill (63) was recorded at the base of the flue along its entire length and was up to 1.05 m wide. Deposit 63 was 0.01 m thick very firmly burnt, dark red to black silty clay that was very charcoal rich. Above this was a 0.45 m wide, 2.70 m long and 0.10 m thick deposit of loosely compact red and greyish-red silty clay (60) with frequent largish stones and occasional charcoal. Some of the stones in the fill may represent collapsed capstones, with two large pieces of heat-affected limestone particular candidates (these measured 0.38 m by 0.35 m by 0.06 m and 0.40 m by 0.36 m by 0.07 m). In places in situ lining stones (62 as in the chamber) were recorded in the flue, with only a short, 0.50 m long, area in the central portion having both sides present. The upper fill of the flue (59), found along the entire length of the flue and fire bowl, was a 0.13 m thick layer of firmly compact mid greyish brown silty clay with occasional charcoal inclusions and moderate quantities of stones. All the flue deposits, except the stone lining, extended into the fire bowl at the south-west, but at the extreme south-west end, in place of in situ burning layers 61 and 63, immediately overlying the fill of ditch 5, was a thin (0.01 m thick) deposit (71) of loose dark grey to black, sandy silt with frequent charcoal inclusions. This lens may represent washed out or raked out material.

Whilst several of the kiln fills appeared charcoal-rich, little identifiable charred wood was recovered, with small amounts of oak and hazel in deposits 57 and 59. A charred cereal grain assemblage was, however, recovered from deposits 57, 59, 60 and 63. The cereal was predominantly oat, with some barley and wheat also present.

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N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny, 15E0567, Raheenapisha 1

A radiocarbon determination (UBA-32412, 938±41 BP) from a charred oat grain from deposit 57 gave a date of cal. AD 1020-1186, in the 11th to 12th centuries AD.

Pit (Figs 7 and 10-12, Plate 7)

Pit 1 was located approximately 0.60 m to the north of the kiln chamber and based on proximity may be contemporary, although no direct relationship was established. The base of the pit appeared to be disturbed, perhaps through root action, and its exact form was not clear. The pit was sub-circular in plan with steep but irregularly concave sides and a concave base. The pit measured 0.88 m by 0.68 m and was 0.23 m deep. There were two fills (52 and 58). Primary fill 58 was moderately compact mid brownish orange silty clay with occasional charcoal and small stones and was 0.21 m thick. It is possible (notwithstanding the charcoal) that deposit 58 is in fact disturbed natural geology, suggesting that pit 1 was actually smaller than described. The upper fill (52) was loosely compact mid greyish brown silty clay with occasional charcoal (mostly oak and including some large pieces) and small stones.

Phase 4 – Post-medieval

Ditch cutting ditch 5 (Figs 7-8 and 12, Plate 8)

Ditch 11 was recorded at the western end of the site adjacent to and parallel with the present N76 road. The ditch truncated the upper portion of ditch 5. The ditch was orientated from north-east to south- west and was located beneath, and parallel to, an earthen bank that flanked the road. Ditch 11 was recorded for a length of 6.00 m within the excavated area and was 1.30 m wide and 0.24 m deep with gently inclined sides and a flattish base. The single fill (83) was firm pale grey silty clay with orange mottling and with occasional rounded stones. A small sherd of post-medieval glazed red earthenware pottery and fragments of animal bone (unidentifiable large mammal) were recovered from the ditch fill (15E0567:83:1-2).

Finds

The only finds from the site were post-medieval pottery and animal bone from ditch 11. A catalogue of finds is given in Appendix 2.

Post-medieval pottery by Gordana Baljkas

A single body sherd of post-medieval pottery (15E0567:83:1) has been identified as glazed red earthenware and was possibly part of a plate (C. McCutcheon pers. comm.). Traces of yellow glaze are still present on one side.

Glazed red earthenware or brownwares were made widely in Britain and Ireland from the later 17th century to the 19th century (Dunlevy 1988, 24-5). Commonly, this type of coarseware was made locally by small family pot-houses and often the manufacturers were also small farmers (Draper 2001, 8). Clay retrieved as close to the kiln and workshop as possible was used and all the vessels were thrown on the wheel (ibid. 10). Initially, the glaze was made from galena, a lead ore, which was then ground to a powder and dusted onto a vessel, but it was replaced by dipping the pot in a liquid mixture of slip and galena (ibid.). The later part of the 17th century saw introduction of litharge or lead oxide which gave a shinier finish (ibid.). Probate inventories rarely list these vessels which, and paired up with the abundant quantities of the ware recovered, clearly speaks of their low value and wide availability (ibid. 7-8).

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N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny, 15E0567, Raheenapisha 1

Animal bone by Natasia Duhau

Introduction

The excavation produced one find of animal bone (15E0567:83:2) from post-medieval ditch 11.

Methodology

All fragments were analysed and taxonomic and element identifications were made using the University College Cork, Department of Archaeology’s animal bone comparative collection. If fragments could not be identified to species level, they were categorized, where possible, to the relative size of animal represented. “Large mammal” includes cattle, horse, and red deer, “medium mammal” includes pig, sheep, goat, roe deer, and large dog, and “small mammal” includes, cat, rodent, lagomorph, and small dog. All other fragments are considered as unidentifiable.

Results

The single sample contained 27 bone fragments with a total weight of 160 g. No fragments could be positively identified to species, however some cranial and post-cranial bones of a large mammal were noted. Six fragments could be identified to skeletal element and include a long-bone fragment, three vertebral fragments and two pelvic fragments, all from a large mammal. The pelvic fragments are the left and right ischiums from a robust large mammal (most likely cattle). None of the bones showed any evidence of burning or butchery.

Conclusion

The small size of the faunal assemblage does not allow for much interpretation.

Due to the presence of axial and cranial bone, it is possible that this animal bone deposit represents butchery waste.

Recommendation

This post-medieval animal bone assemblage is too small to be of any value for future research, and as such it is not recommended for retention.

Samples

Twelve samples were taken during the excavation; from the kiln, the pits and the ditches. The samples were floated and wet sieved through a 300 micron mesh and through a 2 mm mesh in order to recover charred plant material, bone and small artefacts. Charred plant remains including cereal seeds were recovered. A catalogue of samples is given as Appendix 3.

Archaeobotanical analysis by Susan Lyons

Scope of plant macrofossil assessment

Ten samples representing deposits from a pit (1), a kiln (4) and a ditch (5) were selected for the identification and analyses of plant macrofossils and archaeological wood charcoal. These samples were submitted to Susan Lyons for analysis to determine the archaeological significance of the assemblage and to select suitable carbonised remains for the purpose of radiocarbon dating. Charred cereal grain were selected for radiocarbon dating from kiln 4 (deposit 57) and ditch 5 (deposits 73 and 74)

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N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny, 15E0567, Raheenapisha 1

Archaeobotanical analysis is an important component of archaeological excavation and post- excavation works. These remains provide valuable information about explicit activities carried out at a site, including the function and nature of certain features, arable agriculture practices, site economy, diet, food processing and how local natural resources were exploited (Murphy and Whitehouse 2007). Cereal grains, nutshells, seeds and fruit-stones represent the most commonly preserved non-wood plant macro-remains. Delicate chaff from arable crops is also frequently recovered. Other plant components can sometimes be preserved, including cereal bran, leaves, bud-scales and thorns. Vegetative tissues (parenchyma) from roots and tubers, which can be used in a range of activities, may also be recovered.

Woodland resources, including wood and charcoal, were of enormous importance in the past. Communities during both the prehistoric and historic periods were dependant on woodland resources for everyday living, including construction materials for buildings, manufacture of most implements, firewood and fuel (Stuijts 2007; O’Donnell 2011; OCarroll 2012). Analysis of wood and charcoal remains can provide functional evidence for various activities at a site, as well as insights into cultural, ecological and economic variables. Certain wood species may have been selected for particular uses, such as structural posts, firewood, pyre material fuel and wattle.

Charred remains also provide suitable material for the purpose of obtaining radiocarbon dates (C14 dating). In this case, short-living plant species, such as cereal grain, nutshell and young roundwoods are selected for dating.

Charred cereal grain selected for radiocarbon dating from kiln 4 (57) and ditch 5 (73 and 74), all returned medieval dates.

Methodology

Sample processing

Bulk soil samples were processed by TVAS (Ireland) Ltd, according to recognised standards and guidelines (IAI 2006; Pearsall 2000). A system of floatation was used, where each sample is soaked in water and agitated by hand to loosen any charred remains from the soil particles which allows for this material to be separated and float to the surface. This floating material (flot) is poured off and trapped in a sieve (mesh size 250 µm) and, once dried, scanned for plant remains using a binocular microscope. The larger residual material left behind (retent) is washed through a 1 mm, 2 mm and 5 mm mesh or sieve and air-dried. Once dry, each retent is sorted by eye and any material of archaeological significance removed.

Plant macrofossil analysis

All flot samples were viewed under a low powered binocular microscope (magnification x0.8 to x5). Where preservation allowed, the charred plant macro-remains were identified to species level and quantified. Plant species are made using reference to the author’s seed collection and standard seed atlases and references; Flora of the British Isles (Clapham et al. 1957), Zadenatlas der Nederlandsche Flora (Beijerinck 1976), New Flora of the British Isles 2nd Edition (Stace 1997) and Digital Seed Atlas of the Netherlands (Cappers et al. 2006).

Charcoal analysis

Due to the potential for a very high number of charcoal fragments from the samples, a representative sub-sample was randomly chosen from larger samples for identification and assessment. For the purpose of this project, a sub-sample of 50 fragments was chosen from large samples, which is in line with the standard sub-sampling strategy for archaeological charcoal by the National Roads Authority Palaeo-Environmental Guidelines (McClatchie et al. 2014) and current practising archaeological specialists (Keepax 1988; OCarroll 2012).

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N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny, 15E0567, Raheenapisha 1

Wood charcoal identifications were undertaken in accordance with Section 25 of the National Monuments Act, 1930, as amended by Section 20 of the National Monuments Amendment Act 1994, to alter an archaeological object. The wood species identifications were conducted under a binocular microscope using incident light and viewed at magnifications of 100x, 200x and 400x where applicable. Wood species identifications are made using wood reference slides and wood keys devised by Brazier and Franklin (1961), Schweingruber (1978), Hather (2000) and the International Association of Wood Anatomists (IAWA) wood identification manuals and (www.lib.ncsu/edu/insidewood) by Wheeler, Bass and Gasson (1989).

Results

The results are presented in Tables 3 and 4.

Plant macrofossil results

A total of 380 individual plant remains were removed from the samples. The majority of remains were identified as cereal grain with lower occurrences of wild taxa remains. The highest numbers of plant remains were recovered from deposits associated with kiln 4 and ditch 5 slot 7 (deposit 73).

Oat (Avena spp.) dominated the cache making up 55% of the assemblage. Based on the size and morphology of the caryopsis (grain) and the presence of a large scar, the grains are most likely the cultivated variety of oat (Avena sativa). Barley (Hordeum spp.) accounted for 24% of the assemblage, while wheat (Triticum cf. aestivum/compactum) made up 9% of the identified remains. Indeterminate cereal grains were also present (9%). These grains were badly abraded and appear in the table as Cerealia. The state of preservation was relatively poor, with surface abrasion noted, possibly caused by redeposition and other taphonomic factors, such as the carbonisation process itself.

A low number of carbonised wild taxa remains, which accounted for 3% of the assemblage, were also identified and confined to ditch 5 slot 7 (deposit 73); plants common to arable fields - charlock/wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum), bedstraw (Galium aparine), black bindweed (Polygonum convolvulus), fool’s parsley (Aethusa cynapium) and chickweed (Spergula arvensis) (Fig. 13).

Wood charcoal results

The frequency of charcoal from each sample was very low, with no charcoal present from sample 4 (kiln fill 60), samples 6 and 7 (kiln fill 63) and sample 10 (ditch fill 73). Four wood species totalling 75 charcoal identifications were recorded from the analysis (Fig. 14). Oak (Quercus spp.) dominated the assemblage, with the highest values recorded from pit 1 and kiln bowl deposit 59. Hazel (Corylus avellana), ash (Fraxinus excelsior) and willow (Salix spp.) made up just ten counts overall.

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N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny, 15E0567, Raheenapisha 1

Table 3: Plant macrofossil identifications from Raheenapisha 1

Cut Kiln 4 Ditch 5 Feature type Chamber Flue Kiln fills Slot 3 Slot 7 Slot 7 Deposit 57 59 59 60 63 63 55 73 74 TOTAL Sample number *2 3 5 4 6 7 8 *10 *11 Flot weight (g) 4.7 3.2 6.3 4.8 6.6 2.8 3.4 2.6 2.6 Latin name Common name CEREALS/LEGUMES: CARBONIZED Hordeum vulgare L. hulled barley 20 2 3 2 - 1 1 64 - 93 Avena spp. oat 49 8 4 11 1 - 12 121 1 207 Triticum spp. wheat 5 - - - - 16 - 15 - 36 Cerealia indeterminate cereal grain 12 2 3 7 1 - 1 7 - 33 Total cereal counts 86 12 10 20 2 17 14 207 1 369 WILD TAXA: CARBONIZED Polygonum black bindweed ------2 - 2 convolvulus L. Galium aparine L. bedstraw ------2 - 2 Aethusa cynapium L. fool's parsley ------2 - 2 Raphanus charlock/wild radish ------1 - 1 raphanistrum L. Spergula arvensis L. chickwed ------4 - 4 OTHER PLANT REMAINS: CARBONIZED 11 Charcoal See Table 5 + + - + - - + - +

+ = rare occurrence * =C14 sample

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N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny, 15E0567, Raheenapisha 1

Table 4: Charcoal identifications from Raheenapisha 1

Sample Cut Deposit Sample description Flot weight Wood species Common Frequency Weight Comments No. approx. (g) name (g) 1 1 52 Upper fill of pit 1 4.9 Quercus spp. Oak 49 2.80 Sub-sample (30%) Salix spp. Willlow 1 0.02 2 4 57 Fill of kiln chamber 2.1 Quercus spp. Oak 3 0.50 Small branchwood 3 4 59 Fill of kiln flue 2.1 Corylus avellana Hazel 3 0.03 4 4 60 Fill of kiln 0.5 - - - - No charcoal for ID 5 4 59 Kiln bowl 3.1 Quercus spp. Oak 13 1.01 6 4 63 Fill of kiln 0.2 - - - - No charcoal for ID 7 4 63 Fill of kiln 1.2 - - - - No charcoal for ID 8 3 55 Fill of ditch 5 (slot 3) 1.1 Fraxinus excelsior Ash 3 0.05 10 7 73 Fill of ditch 5 (slot 7) 4.05 - - - - No charcoal for ID 11 7 74 Fill of ditch 5 (slot 7) 0.64 Corylus avellana Hazel 3 0.02

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N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny, 15E0567, Raheenapisha 1

Discussion

Plant macrofossil assemblage

The grain assemblage, comprising oat, barley and wheat collectively are all typical crops cultivated during the medieval period (Monk 1986, 33; McCormick et al. 2011). These crops vary in frequency and composition depending on location, environmental conditions, cultural preference and use. Cereals were regarded not just as a source of sustenance, but also as cultural symbols that could distinguish social classes (Fredengren et al. 2004).

The preponderance for oat and barley from crop assemblages is becoming commonplace from other medieval sites in Ireland as revealed by a national study of archaeobotanical remains conducted through the Early Medieval Archaeology Project (McCormick et al. 2011, 50). Oat and barley both grow well in the humid, wet Irish climate as they tolerate poorer soils (Monk et al. 1998; Clarke 1991, 173). During the medieval period barley and oat were crops consumed by lower graded farmers (Kelly 1998). Oat had a number of different uses, which depended on availability, use and personal taste. It could be baked into flat cakes, or added to pottage and stews and malted and brewed into inferior ales. It was frequently used in making porridge rather than bread as it was easy to digest, simple and quick to prepare and cook, compared to barley (Lucas 1959, 9). Both crops were also used as animal fodder during the medieval period (Langdon 1982, 32), however their suitability in brewing beer and ale increased their crop status during the later medieval period (Kelly 1998). Since bread and ale were considered the two staples of medieval life, the storage of whole grains would also have been important to facilitate food supplies and fodder through the winter or in times of food shortage.

During the medieval period, wheat was seen as a luxury crop associated with potentially high status occupation (Kelly 1998; Monk 1991) and a crop favoured by the Anglo-Norman population in the later medieval period (Monk 1986, 34; Murphy and Potterton 2010, 306). Wheat, in contrast to oat and barley, has a high gluten content, which determines flour quality and is an essential component for producing leavened bread. The superior quality of wheaten flour was more desired than the heavy flat coarse breads of oat and barley, which were viewed as inferior varieties (Sexton 1998, 142). While wheat values are lower, this is relative to the sample density available and could reflect localised arable practices at the site.

Distribution of plant macrofossil remains

The plant macrofossils recorded were primarily concentrated within kiln 4 (deposits 57, 59, 60 and 63) and ditch 5 (slots 3 and 7). Crop drying would have been an integral part of crop processing practice during the medieval period and was undertaken for a number of reasons; drying prior to threshing; de- husking and removing awns and hulls; to harden the grain for grinding; kill germinating grain after malting and improve the storage quality of the grain (killing pests and driving off excess moisture) (Scott 1951; Monk 1981).

The frequency of charred grain from kiln 4 is not particularly high suggesting that the grain is residual debris from one or more kilning activity. It is highly probable that the kiln was in fact cleaned out prior to disuse, as the charcoal frequency is also notably low from this feature. The majority of the grain, concentrated in the chamber (57), seems to represent grains that have fallen from an overlying platform or floor and raked through into the flue (59) mixing with other internal deposits (60 and 63). Despite the low frequency of grain, the preponderance of oat from kiln 4 suggests that this was the last crop dried here, the presence of barley and wheat may be incidental rather than contamination. Growing a mixed crop, known as dredge or maslin, had an economic incentive, since it ensured the probability of a decent yield as well as distributing seasonal labour requirements (Halstead and O’Shea 1989).

Crop drying kilns would have required periodic cleaning, with burnt grain and fuel debris dumped into nearby open features. This would therefore account for the high grain content in ditch 5, particularly

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N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny, 15E0567, Raheenapisha 1 deposit 73 (slot 7). Whether the grain from deposit 73 is directly associated with the last kilning event from kiln 4 or an earlier episode of drying is difficult to ascertain. The absence of any identifiable charcoal from deposit 73 is unusual in the context of kiln debris. The presence of charred grain and wild taxa could represent rake-out from a kiln bowl or reflect the type of kiln fuel used, as they were commonly used as fuel stock for parching grain (Hillman 1981). It is also possible that the wild plant remains were burnt as they lined a kiln floor or platform or indeed as they were dried as a foodstuff alongside the grain itself.

Charcoal assemblage

Considering the kiln activity at Raheenapisha 1, the charcoal content from this feature was very low and altogether absent from some kiln deposits. This could be explained if the kiln had been cleaned out prior to disuse or abandonment, as suggested by the low cereal frequency. The area where the fire- spot should be and hence where the highest concentration of charcoal is generally found, was within and disturbed by a field boundary. The charcoal recorded was identified as oak and hazel, both wood species commonly used to fuel these features during the medieval period (OCarroll 2012). Ash and hazel charcoal were also identified from ditch 5 (deposits 55 and 74), however the low frequency of remains is difficult to fully interpret and represents residual debris from nearby firing rather than discreet episodes of dumping. Pit 1 contained the highest frequency of charcoal, dominated by oak with lesser willow. No in situ burning was noted in this feature, suggesting that the charcoal was a dump deposit. Whether this came from the nearby kiln or was contemporary to it is difficult to establish, since the relative frequency of charcoal from the kiln was too low to make any broader inferences.

Conclusions and recommendations

The crop assemblage recorded from Raheenapisha 1 was confined to kiln 4 and ditch 5. Radiocarbon dating has revealed that these are contemporary features, dating to the 11th /12th centuries AD and as such ditch 5 likely functioned as a dumping ground for kilning debris removed from kiln 4. The last crop being dried may have been a maslin mix/dredge dominated by oat and there is potential evidence that drying debris from this feature was dumped into the ditch. The kiln is most likely to have been cleaned out prior to disuse or abandonment, as attested by the relatively low cereal and charcoal composition. The charcoal assemblage was dominated by oak, particularly from pit 1, with just trace elements of oak, hazel and ash from kiln 4 and ditch 5.

A representative number of charcoal fragments and all plant macrofossils are been identified and removed from all samples. It is therefore recommended that all ten flot samples be discarded.

Radiocarbon dating

Three radiocarbon determinations were obtained from Queens University Belfast (Table 5) and calibrated using IntCal13 (Reimer et al. 2013). The determinations are from cereal grains from ditch 5 (slot 7) and kiln 4 and are from the later part of the early medieval period. The use of a short lived grain for dating means the ‘old wood effect’ is unlikely to have influenced the result.

Table 5: Radiocarbon determinations

Lab Cut Deposit Sample Sample Radiometric Calendrical calibrations code no. material age UBA- 4 57 2 Charred oat 938 BP±41 2 sigma (95.4%) 32412 grain Cal AD 1020-1186 (1.000) 1 sigma (68.3%) Cal AD 1034-1055 (0.210), Cal AD 1077-1153 (0.790)

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N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny, 15E0567, Raheenapisha 1

Lab Cut Deposit Sample Sample Radiometric Calendrical calibrations code no. material age UBA 7 73 10 Charred 1013 BP±41 2 sigma (95.4%) 32413 barley grain Cal AD 909-911 (0.001) Cal AD 969-1050 (0.852) Cal AD 1083-1127 (0.117) Cal AD 1135-1151 (0.030) 1 sigma (68.3%) Cal AD 989-1033 (1.000) UBA 7 74 11 Charred oat 971 BP±31 2 sigma (95.4%) 32414 grain Cal AD 1016-1154 (1.000) 1 sigma (68.3%) Cal AD 1021-1047 (0.428) Cal AD 1088-1122 (0.453) Cal AD 1138-1148 (0.119)

Discussion

The excavation of 15E0567, Raheenapisha 1, has revealed an undated pit, an early medieval kiln and ditch and a likely contemporary pit and a post-medieval ditch.

Undated

The earliest feature on the site, a pit (9), remains undated. As the fills were all sterile and no dateable material was retrieved, no further interpretation is possible, other than to say that the pit pre-dates the early medieval ditch (5) on the site.

Early medieval

The majority of the evidence from the site relates to early medieval agricultural activity, namely cereal processing and field divisions.

Raheenapisha 1 lies 85 m to the west of the known edge of Recorded Monument KK23-005, an enclosure originally identified as a cropmark. Geophysical survey (Fig. 6) of the area around the monument has revealed that it consists of a complex of enclosures that extend over a wide area. Although not directly dated, the complex has the appearance of a series of early medieval settlement enclosures. The ditch excavated in Raheenapisha 1 appears, from the geophysical survey, to join the edge of one of the enclosures and it is therefore possible that the ditch forms part of a field system utilised by the occupants, or was at least constructed whilst the enclosure was still standing. Radiocarbon determinations from charred cereal grains deposited in the ditch indicate that the ditch was open in the 11th century AD and was partly covered by a cereal drying kiln in the 11th to 12th centuries AD. A possible recut at the western end of the ditch could indicate ongoing use of the field system over some time.

As noted above, the fire bowl of the cereal-drying kiln was set into the partially infilled ditch, utilising the sheltered position to aid control of airflow from the fire, through the flue into the drying chamber. In the early medieval period kilns were typically located away from the heart of the settlement, presumably to reduce the risk of fire to thatched buildings. It is not unusual for kilns to be positioned in ditches in outer parts of settlements and to post-date the initial phase of occupation (McCormick et al. 2011, 34-5).

Cereal-drying kilns are known in Ireland from at least the early medieval period onwards, with apparent peaks in use during the late 5th-early 6th and the 8th centuries (McCormick et al. 2011, fig. 1.26; Timpany et al. 2011). The Raheenapisha 1 kiln was radiocarbon dated to the 11th to 12th centuries AD in the period prior to the arrival of the Angle-Normans. Kilns such as this were used to dry the

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N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny, 15E0567, Raheenapisha 1 crop prior to storage or processing before consumption and are thought to be associated with an increase in agricultural production. The process of heating the grain not only dried it, preventing fungal growth and a ruined crop, but also fumigated the cereal to protect against insect infestation, made it easier to remove outer glumes and produced harder, more easily milled grains. The early Brehon Law tracts denote possession of a kiln as a mark of bo-aireach or freeman, but kilns could be communally or individually owned.

Kilns vary in shape but usually have three constituent parts: a fire spot or stoking area, a flue and a drying chamber (Monk and Kelleher 2005; O’Sullivan and Downey 2005). The arrangements of these structural parts vary but categories of forms are evident. There are ‘keyhole’ or ‘tobacco pipe’-shaped kilns, the ‘comma’ or ‘L-shaped’ kilns and the simplest ‘sub-rectangular’, ‘dumb-bell’ or ‘figure-of- eight’-shaped kilns (Monk and Kelleher 2005). Cereal-drying kilns functioned by drawing heat from the fire into the drying chamber. The placement of a baffle stone at the entrance to the chamber from the flue was used to prevent sparks from the fire reaching the combustible grain. Experimentation has shown that short flue kilns in particular suffered from a need for baffle stones (ibid.) and it is probably a fire hazard that may have quickly led to the adoption of longer, pronounced flues. Prior to this it is possible that early kilns suffered from the more direct application of fire whereby the stoke hole would lie adjacent to the drying chamber.

The Raheenapisha 1 kiln had a narrow entrance from the flue to the chamber which would have minimised the risk of sparks and indeed, were the entire flue stone lined, it would have been narrow along its full length.

Little charred cereal and very little charcoal remained within the kiln and it appears that it was well cleaned out after its final use. No real evidence of the fuel used in the kiln was recovered, although a nearby pit contained oak charcoal and this may be related.

Archaeobotanical analysis reveals that oat was the principal crop being dried on the site, at least during the final phase of use of the kiln. Barley and wheat were also present and this may indicate the growing of a mixed crop. Although medieval documentary sources suggest that oat was a low-value crop, it regularly appears on archaeological sites in Ireland, being second only to barley in occurrence, and often dominates the cereal assemblage (McCormick et al 2011, 50-54). Despite being regarded as low-status food, oat was clearly an important crop as it grows well on poorly drained soil and is nutritious, providing food for animals, as well as being used in bread and porridge. Early medieval grain assemblages are commonly dominated by one type of cereal or another and it has been suggested that cereal producers may have specialised in particular crops, using them to trade with other farmers (ibid., 56-57). The dominance of oat at Raheenapisha 1 does, therefore, not necessarily imply that the local population only had access to this one type of cereal, in fact it is not certain that they grew the crop themselves, as it may have been bought in before being dried.

Post-medieval

At the western edge of the site a later ditch (11) truncated the top of the early medieval ditch (5). Later 17th to 19th century pottery was recovered from the fill of ditch 11 in addition to a small amount of animal bone. It is likely that this ditch, which was parallel to the existing N76 road, represents an earlier iteration of the roadside boundary. This road is known to have existed in the 18th century when it was depicted on Taylor and Skinner's map of the roads of Ireland, and doubtless was used for many centuries prior to that. Clearly, however, the field system associated with the neighbouring enclosures was no longer in use, perhaps indicating that the road was not constructed until after the enclosure was no longer occupied.

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N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny, 15E0567, Raheenapisha 1

Archaeological potential off the road CPO

The kiln was fully excavated within the CPO. The east to west ditch that pre-dates the kiln continues outside of the CPO to the east of the site. It is not known whether the ditch survives beneath the current road to the west but it is certainly possible that it does.

Recommendations and further work

Fieldwork

This site has been fully excavated within the confines of the CPO and no further fieldwork is required.

Record of Monuments and Places / Sites and Monuments Record

It is recommended that the site is entered into the SMR for County Kilkenny and that the continuation of the ditch into the adjacent field be entered into the RMP.

Post-excavation

The finds where advised by the relevant specialist, will be conserved (where necessary), numbered, labelled, properly packed and will be deposited with the National Museum of Ireland in accordance with Advice Notes for Excavators (NMI 2010).

As per the recommendations of the plant macrofossil analyst, the charred plant remains, specifically charcoal, will be discarded as the report included here is the recommended industry standard for recording archaeological charcoal.

As per the recommendations of the faunal specialist, the animal bone assemblage will be discarded as the report included here is a complete record of the bone.

An accessible archive of primary records (Appendix 4) will be prepared for long term storage and will be kept at the offices of TVAS (Ireland) Ltd until it is deposited with the State archive repository (Barrett 2012).

Publication and dissemination plan

A summary of the findings of the excavation has been submitted to Excavations 2015.

It is intended to publish the results of this excavation in a suitable local journal.

______Graham Hull TVAS (Ireland) Ltd November 2016

20

N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny, 15E0567, Raheenapisha 1

References

Barrett, R, 2012, Guidelines and Forms for the Transfer of Excavation Archives to National Monuments Service Archive, Department of the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Archive Unit

Beijerinck, W, 1976, Zadenatlas der Nederlandsche Flora: Ten Behoeve van de Botanie, Palaeontology, Bodemcultuur en Warenkennis, Backhuys and Meesters, Amsterdam

Bennett, I, 1987-2012, Excavations 1987 – 2009, Wordwell, Bray

Brazier, J D and Franklin, G L, 1961, Identification of hardwoods: a microscopic key, H M Stationery Office, London

Cappers, R T J, Bekker, R M and Jans, J E A, 2006, Digital Seed Atlas of the Netherlands, Barkhuis Publishing and Groningen University Library, Groningen, Netherlands

Clapham, A R, Tutin, T G and Warburg, E F, 1957, Flora of the British Isles, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

Clarke, A, 1991, ‘The Irish economy 1600-60’, in T W Moody, F X Martin and F J Byrne (eds), Early modern Ireland 1534-1691, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 168-186

DAHGI, 1999a, Framework and Principles for the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage, Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Govt. of Ireland, Stationery Office, Dublin

DAHGI, 1999b, Policy and Guidelines on Archaeological Excavation, Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Govt. of Ireland, Stationery Office, Dublin

Draper, J, 2001, Post-Medieval Pottery 1650 – 1800, Shire Publications Ltd, Princes Risborough

Dunlevy, M, 1988, Ceramics in Ireland, National Museum of Ireland, Dublin

Fredengren, C, McClatchie, M and Stuijts, I, 2004, ‘Reconsidering crannogs in Early Medieval Ireland: alternative approaches in the investigation of social and agricultural systems’, Environmental Archaeology 9(2), 161-66

Halstead, P and O’Shea, J, (eds), 1989, Bad year economics: cultural responses to risk and uncertainty, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

Hather, J G, 2000, The identification of Northern European woods; a guide for archaeologists and conservators, Archetype Press, London

Hillman, G, 1981, ‘Reconstructing crop husbandry practises from the charred remains of crops’, in R J Mercer Farming practise in British prehistory, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh

Hull, G, 2015, N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny, 15E0464, Stage (i)a testing and Stage (i)f townland boundary survey report, unpublished TVAS (Ireland) Ltd report

Hull, G, 2016a, N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny, 15E0464, Stage (i)a testing report addendum, unpublished TVAS (Ireland) Ltd report

Hull, G, 2016b, N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny, 15E0568, Parkmore 1, Co. Kilkenny, Stage (iv) Final Archaeological Excavation Report, unpublished TVAS (Ireland) Ltd report

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N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny, 15E0567, Raheenapisha 1

Hull, G, 2016c, N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny, 15E0569, Raheenapisha 2, Co. Kilkenny, Stage (iv) Final Archaeological Excavation Report, unpublished TVAS (Ireland) Ltd report

Hull, G, 2016d, N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny, 15E0578, Raheenapisha 3, Co. Kilkenny, Stage (iv) Final Archaeological Excavation Report, unpublished TVAS (Ireland) Ltd report

Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland (IAI) 2007 ‘Environmental Sampling Guidelines for Archaeologists’, Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland http://www.iai.ie/Publications_Files/IAIEnvironmentalSamplingGuidelinesFINAL.pdf

Keepax, C A, 1988, Charcoal analysis with particular reference to archaeological sites in Britain, unpublished PhD thesis, University of London

Kelly, F, 1976, ‘The Old Irish tree-list’, Celtica 11, 107-124

Kelly, B, 2015, N76 Callan Road Realignment, Archaeological and Cultural Heritage Desktop Assessment, unpublished Tramore House Road Design Office report KK06370- P3.001.D1_ARCH

Kelly, F, 1998, Early Irish Farming: A study based mainly of the law-tracts of the 7th and 8th centuries AD, Institute for Advanced Studies, Dublin

Kilkenny County Council, 2014, Kilkenny County Development Plan 2014-2020

Langdon, J, 1982, ‘The economics of horses and oxen in Medieval England’, Agricultural History Review 30(1), 31-40

Leigh, J, 2007, N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny, Geophysical Survey Report, 07-R0214 & 07-R-215, unpublished J M Leigh Surveys report

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McClatchie, M, OCarroll, E, and Murphy E, 2014, NRA Palaeo-Environmental Sampling Guidelines: retrieval, analysis and reporting of plant macro-remains, wood, charcoal, insects and pollen and insects from archaeological excavations, National Roads Authority, Dublin

McCormick, F, Kerr, T, McClatchie, M and O’Sullivan, A, 2011, The archaeology of livestock and cereal production in early medieval Ireland, AD 400-1100, Early Medieval Archaeological Project (EMAP) Report 5.1. Report submitted for Irish National Strategic Archaeological Research (INSTAR) programme 2011

Monk, M A, 1981, ‘Post Roman drying kilns and the problems of function’, in D Ó Corráin (ed.), Irish Antiquity, Tower Books, Cork, 216-30

Monk, M A, 1986, ‘Evidence from macroscopic plant remains for crop husbandry in prehistoric and early historic Ireland: A review’, The Journal of Irish Archaeology III 1985/6, 31-36

Monk, M A, 1991, ‘The archaeobotanical evidence for field crop plants in early historical Ireland’, in J M Renfrew (ed.) New light on early farming; recent developments in palaeoethnobotany, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 315-328

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Monk, M and Kelleher, E, 2005, ‘An assessment of the archaeological evidence for Irish corn drying kilns in the light of the results of archaeological experiments and archaeobotanical studies’, The Journal of Irish Archaeology, XIV, 77-114

Monk, M A, Tierney, J and Hannon, M, 1998, ‘Archaeobotanical studies and early medieval Munster’, in M A Monk and J Sheehan (eds), Early Medieval Munster: archaeology, history and society, Cork University Press, Cork, 65-75

Murphy, M and Potterton, M, 2010, The Dublin Region in the Middle Ages: Settlement, Land-use and Economy, Four Courts Press and The Discovery Programme, Dublin

Murphy, E.M, and Whitehouse, N J (eds), 2007, Environmental Archaeology in Ireland, Oxbow, Oxford

National Museum of Ireland, 2010, Advice Notes for Excavators, unpublished guidelines, National Museum of Ireland, Dublin

NRA/MAHGI, 2000, Code of Practice between the National Roads Authority and the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands

OCarroll, E, 2012, Quantifying woodland resource usage in the Irish midlands using archaeological and palaeoecological techniques, unpublished PhD thesis, Trinity College Dublin

O’Donnell, L, 2011, People and woodlands: an investigation of charcoal remains as indicators of cultural selection and local environment in Bronze Age Ireland, unpublished PhD thesis, University College Dublin

O'Kelly, O, 1985, The Place-Names of the County of Kilkenny, Boethius Press, Kilkenny

O’Sullivan, M and Downey, L, 2005, ‘Corn-drying kilns’, Archaeology Ireland 19 (3), 32-35

Pearsall, D, 2000, Palaeoethnobotany: Handbook of Procedures, 2nd edition, Academic Press, San Diego

Rogers, T, 2004, ‘Wetlands, Co. Kilkenny, 04E0652’, in I Bennett (ed.) Excavations 2004, Wordwell, Bray, accessed www.excavations.ie entry 2004:0931

Schweingruber, F H, 1978, Microscopic wood anatomy, Swiss Federal Institute of Forestry Research, Birmensdorf

Scott, L, 1951, ‘Corn Drying Kilns’, Antiquity 20, 196-208

Sexton, R, 1998, ‘Porridges, gruels and breads: the cereal foodstuffs of Early Medieval Ireland’, in M A Monk and J Sheehan (eds), Early medieval Munster: archaeology, history and society, Cork University Press, Cork, 76-86

Stace, C, 1997, New flora of the British Isles, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

Stevens, P, 1999, ‘Baunlusk-Ballyconra gas pipeline, Co. Kilkenny, 99E0388’, in I Bennett (ed.) Excavations 1999, Wordwell, Bray, accessed at www.excavations.ie entry 1999:426

Stuijts, I, 2007, ‘Wood and charcoal research in Ireland’, in E M Murphy and N J Whitehouse (eds), Environmental archaeology in Ireland, Oxbow, Oxford, 179–193

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N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny, 15E0567, Raheenapisha 1

Timpany, S, Power, O and Monk, M, 2011, ‘Agricultural boom and bust in medieval Ireland: plant macrofossil evidence from kiln sites along the N9/N10 in County Kildare’, in S Conran, E Danaher and M Stanley (eds), Past Times, Changing Fortunes, National Roads Authority Monograph Series No. 8, National Roads Authority, Dublin, 73-83

Wheeler, E A, Bass, P and Gasson, P E, 1989, ‘IAWA list of microscopic features for hardwood identification’, IAWA Bulletin 10 (3), Rijksherbarium, Leiden, 219-332

www.archaeology.ie www.excavations.ie www.gsi.ie www.logainm.ie

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N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny, 15E0567, Raheenapisha 1

Appendix 1: Catalogue of features and deposits

Cut Deposit Group Type Length (m) Width (m) Depth (m) Finds Samples Phase 1 52, 58 - Pit 0.88 0.68 0.23 - 1 3 2 53, 54, 64, 65 5 Ditch slot 0.40 1.50 0.76 - - 2 3 55, 56, 72 5 Ditch slot 2.46 1.64 0.89 - 8-9 2 4 57, 59, 60, 61, - Kiln 4.70 1.20 (max) 0.25 - 2-7 3 62, 63, 71 5 - - Ditch 40.00 1.40-1.78 0.44-1.01 - - 2 6 66, 67, 68, 69, 5 Ditch slot 1.85 1.68 1.01 - - 2 70 7 73, 74 5 Ditch slot 2.25 1.45 0.70 - 10-11 2 8 75, 76, 77 5 Ditch slot 2.55 1.10-1.40 0.52-0.82 - - 2 9 78, 79, 80 - Pit 2.70 1.70 0.60 - 12 1 10 81, 82 5 Ditch slot 3.50 1.78 0.44 - - 2 11 83 - Ditch 6.00 1.30 0.24 Pottery, bone - 4 - 50 - Topsoil - - 0.50 - - - - 51 - Natural ------

25 N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny, 15E0567, Raheenapisha 1

Appendix 2: Catalogue of finds

Find No Cut Deposit Group Sample Category Description No Weight (g) No pieces 15E0567:83:1 11 83 - - Ceramic - pottery Glazed red earthenware body fragment (17th 1 1 – 19th century). Plate 15E0567:83:2 11 83 - - Organic - bone Bone fragments 20 160

26 N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny, 15E0567, Raheenapisha 1

Appendix 3: Catalogue of samples

Sample No Cut Deposit Group Volume Volume Finds Charred plant remains sieved (L) floated (L) 1 1 52 - 5 5 - Yes 2 4 57 - 20 20 - Yes 3 4 59 flue - 20 20 - Yes 4 4 60 - 20 20 - Yes 5 4 59 bowl - 5 5 - Yes 6 4 63 bowl - 5 5 - Yes 7 4 63 flue - 5 5 - Yes 8 3 55 5 20 20 - Yes 9 3 56 5 20 20 - No 10 7 73 5 20 20 - Yes 11 7 74 5 20 20 - Yes 12 9 78 - 20 20 - No

27 N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny, 15E0567, Raheenapisha 1

Appendix 4: Archive contents

Category Item Quantity Condition

Paper records Context index sheets 3 Good Context sheets 45 Good Plan keys 1 Good Sample index sheets 1 Good Level sheets 1 Good

Plans 1:50 pre-ex plans (A2) 1 Good 1:20 mid-ex plans (A2) 1 - 1:20 post-ex plans (A2) 7 Good

Sections Section sheets (A2) 2 Good 1:10 section drawings 12 Good (on those sheets)

Photographs Digital photographs 90 Digitally stored & backed- up

The archive is currently stored at the TVAS (Ireland) Ltd office, Ahish, Ballinruan, Crusheen, Co. Clare.

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0

0

.

0

8

3 4

651000N

0 1 km

647000E 648000E 649000E J15/17 N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny 15E0567, Raheenapisha 1

Figure 2: Scheme layout and site location

1:20,000 @ A4 Ordnance Survey digital mapping provided by client. Copyright OSI & Govt. of Ireland. OSI Licence: AR0049416

RAHEENAPISHA 3 15E0578 N

652250N A

2

A

E

R

A

P

E

KK23-004

P E

B 2

A E R A

P E

652000N

P E C 2

A E R A

P E

RAHEENAPISHA 1 15E0567

D 2 A E R A KK23-005 E 2 A E R RAHEENAPISHA 2 A 15E0569

651750N

F 2 A E R A

648250E 648500E J15/17 N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny 15E0567, Raheenapisha 1

0 100 m Figure 6: Site location and geophysical survey 1:2,000 @ A3 Ordnance Survey digital mapping provided by client. Copyright OSI & Govt. of Ireland. OSI Licence: AR0049416. Geophysical survey Leigh 2007 N

N76 Callan Road Figure 8 Ditch 11 Limit of excavation

651825N

10 Figure 9 Ditch 5 8 Pit 1 Pit 9 7 Figures 10&11 Kiln 4 3

6 2

Edge of Lands Made Available

651800N

648300E 648325E 648350E J15/17 N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny 15E0567 Raheenapisha 1 0 10 m Figure 7: Site plan (overview)

Scale 1:200 @ A3 Ordnance Survey base mapping supplied by client Copyright OSI & Govt. of Ireland. OSI Licence: AR0049416 N

N76 Callan Road 77.63m OD

11 83

77.50m OD

81 Limit of excavation 10 77.22m OD 83 81 77.58m OD Ditch 5

82 77.25m OD 651825N 81

77.93m OD

8 82 78.09m OD 77.60m OD

77.52m OD

78.23m OD 77.71m OD Extrapolated edge Sections: Figure 12 of pit prior to truncation 9 78.02m OD 78.41m OD 78 648315E 648320E 648325E 79 J15/17 N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny 15E0567 Raheenapisha 1 0 2 m Figure 8: Plan of western part of site

Scale 1:40 @ A3 Ordnance Survey base mapping supplied by client Copyright OSI & Govt. of Ireland. OSI Licence: AR0049416 N

78.46m OD

7

77.82m OD 78.74m OD

78.47m OD 3 Ditch 5

77.87m OD

651820N

78.72m OD

Limit of excavation

Sections: Figure 12

648325E 648330E 648335E J15/17 N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny 15E0567 Raheenapisha 1 0 2 m Figure 9: Plan of central part of site

Scale 1:40 @ A3 79.15m OD N 1

78.97m OD

651820N

4 Sections: Figure 12

62

61 62 78.99m OD 79.09m OD 63 57 Limit of 62 61 ion 79.20m OD excavat Ditch 5 removed 61 from slot

67 79.00m OD 79.55m OD

61 79.20m OD 63 62

78.82m OD 61 70

2

Not bottomed 78.02m OD 67 Edge of 78.59m OD Lands Made 67 Available 78.99m OD

79.00m OD 78.23m OD

648345E 648350E 6 J15/17 N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny 15E0567 Raheenapisha 1 0 1m Figure 10: Plan of eastern part of site (mid-excavation plan of kiln)

Scale 1:25 @ A3 79.15m OD N 1

78.97m OD

79.15m OD

651820N

Sections: Figure 12 4

78.94m OD

Limit of excavation Ditch 5 78.80m OD

67 79.00m OD 79.55m OD

78.77m OD 70

2

Not bottomed 78.02m OD 67 Edge of 78.59m OD Lands Made 67 Available 78.99m OD

79.00m OD 78.23m OD

648345E 648350E 6 J15/17 N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny 15E0567 Raheenapisha 1 0 1m Figure 11: Plan of eastern part of site (post-excavation plan of kiln)

Scale 1:25 @ A3 N S NE SW SE NW SW NE 79.15m OD 79.20m OD 79.22m OD 79.05m OD 59 58 52 57 Stones were here 59 57 1 63 53 61 62 4 chamber 61 63 60 4 flue 64 2 54 65

NE SW SW NE N S 78.90m OD 79.06m OD 78.58m OD

59 73 4 fire bowl 55 70 71 60 69 63 61 68 7 74 6 72 3 56 67

66

NE SW NE SW 78.35m OD 77.65m OD Machined during strip 78 81 82 79 10 75 80 9

8 76

SE NW 77 77.67m OD

83

81 11

10 J15/17 N76 Callan Road Realignment, Co. Kilkenny Key 15E0567 Raheenapisha 1 0 1m Very charcoal rich Heat oxidised Figure 12: Sections Charcoal

Scale 1:20 @ A3

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