부산대학교 도서관

Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd (IAC), funded by the National Roads Authority (NRA) through Kilkenny County Council, undertook an excavation at the site of AR120, Jordanstown 2 along the proposed N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford Scheme, Phase 4 – Knocktopher to Powerstown (Figure 1). The following report describes the results of archaeological excavation at that site. The area was fully excavated by James Kyle under Ministerial Direction A032 and Excavation Registration Number E3851 issued by the DoEHLG in consultation with the National Museum of Ireland for IAC. The fieldwork took place between the 2 January and 12 February 2008. The excavation at Jordanstown 2 has identified a range of features that were dispersed across the site. Typologically these features suggest at least two main phases of activity on the site and radiocarbon dating has confirmed that elements of the site date to the Bronze Age and the early medieval period. The earliest phase of activity recorded consisted of a series of troughs and associated postholes that were related to early Bronze Age burnt mound activity. Three sub-circular troughs were recorded to the east of the site and it is not clear if these represent three separate phases of activity or whether they were contemporary. It was notable that there was no evidence of an overlying mound of heat shattered stone, often associated with this site type. Smaller pits with no associated mound are sometimes interpreted as “pot boilers” but the three troughs were too large to have been considered in these terms. The lack of overlying material could indicate that the three troughs were contemporary, and that any waste material from the occupation of the site was simply backfilled into the troughs, with little surplus for a substantial mound. A number of small postholes and stakeholes were recorded to the south of the troughs and it is felt that these were directly associated with the burnt mound activity, possibly forming a fence or windbreak. To the east of the troughs there was a small slot trench associated with three postholes and a stakehole. It is felt that this represents a small temporary prehistoric structure that may or may not be related to the burnt mound activity. In the centre and north-west of the site there was a cluster of activity that consisted of a number of pits and hearths and a cereal drying kiln. One of the pits has been dated to the latter stages of the early medieval period and the figure of eight shaped kiln is typologically of a similar date. The precise function of the pits is unclear although the presence of burnt stones within their fills, dated to the early medieval period, may point to burnt mound related activity. Other isolated features on the site consisted of a small circular hearth/kiln with a possible associated cobbled surface or working platform. The presence of charred seeds within the fill of the feature could indicate that it was a cereal drying kiln. In the centre of the site another hearth may constitute a small charcoal production pit as exclusively oak charcoal was recorded from it. Oak charcoal was often utilised in metallurgical furnaces and kilns from the Iron Age and was also commonplace in early medieval and medieval contexts. The site was truncated by three post-medieval field drains or boundaries but given the dispersed nature of the archaeological features these drains/boundaries did not have an obvious negative impact on the archaeology of the site. A total of two samples were sent for AMS radiocarbon dating. A sample of ash charcoal from trough fill C50 (trough C28) was radiocarbon dated. The 2 sigma calibrated result was 2033–1914BC (UBA 12235). A sample of hazel charcoal from pit fill C120 (pit C119) was also radiocarbon dated. The 2 sigma calibrated result was AD829–984 (UBA 12236). The excavation at Jordanstown 2 has identified dispersed activity in the form of an early Bronze Age burnt mound with multiple troughs, associated postholes and a possible temporary structure, and early medieval pits, cereal drying kilns and charcoal production pits. It is an important site locally on the basis of the multi-phased and varied activity that has been recorded and in terms of the lack of previously recorded monuments within this locale prior to the N9/N10 Phase 4 investigations. It has more regional significance when viewed in conjunction with the surrounding excavated sites from the scheme which shows a landscape intensely occupied from early prehistory and into the Iron Age, but has little evidence from the early medieval period.