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 AR083, Danesfort 6 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 Emma Devine under Ministerial Direction A032 and Excavation Registration Number E3538 issued by the DoEHLG in consultation with the National Museum of Ireland for IAC. The fieldwork took place between 18 June and 25 July 2007. The earliest activity on the site was associated with scattered small pits dated to the Bronze Age. This residual Bronze Age presence was attested to by the presence of a probable disturbed cremation pit (containing sherds of a number of early Bronze Age funerary vessels) with other associated small pits in the north of the site. In the south of the site a further small scatter of pits was recorded, one of which was dated to the middle Bronze Age (1631?1511BC). A small pit cluster in the south of the site was dated to the late Bronze Age. The prehistoric pottery at Danesfort 6 was retrieved from a possible cremation pit and the topsoil. It comprises 14 sherds and eight fragments from three early Bronze Age vase urns and appears to have been disturbed from an earlier, possibly funerary, context. Based on radiocarbon dating and typological analysis of pottery most of the archaeological activity identified was medieval in date. This activity was confined to the western end of the site and would have been focused around a natural pool and paleochannel; both of which are no longer extant. The medieval occupation was characterised by a small enclosed, but not heavily defended, farmstead. The site was located to the east of an extensive ridge and furrow cultivated lands (RMP KK023-60) which was located outside of the C.P.O. lands. The main focus of the settlement was a building, probably a house, located between the pool and the paleochannel. Building 1, comprised post-holes and slot-trenches and was sub-rectangular in plan. It measured approximately 6m east?west by 5m north?south and it is interpreted that it would have been of post and beam construction. It was evident from the fills within these features that the structure had been dismantled prior to the site?s abandonment. Internal stake and post-holes appeared to form two lines running north?south, thereby dividing the interior into three aisles. A possible entrance in the north wall was defined by two large post-holes. An east?west alignment of internal features was also evident and may point to an additional central entrance in the east wall. External postholes to the south of the structure may relate to a small porch but appear to indicate a further southern entrance directly opposite the northern one. The wider area of the farmstead was defined by gullies and ditches. A probable small animal pen was outlined to the south of the pool and gullies potentially defined access to the south of Building 1. Away from Building 1, to the east of the pool were remains of small possible hearths. A large waste pit was located immediately east of the main farmstead boundary ditch. The composition of the pit fills (which included pottery and other artefacts, animal bone, charred seeds and charcoal) suggests that this was a location for dumping of domestic waste. Medieval pottery from the site consisted of 57 sherds of Kilkenny-type ware, 18 sherds of Leinster Cooking Ware, three sherds of Saintonge Green Painted ware and one sherd of Kilkenny-type coarseware. The lithic finds from Danesfort 6 are dominated by a residual early Mesolithic component (five flint blades, seven pieces of flint debitage) and five macro tools suggested by Sternke to date to the early medieval period. No activity dating to either period was identified on site but the finds may relate to activity beyond the limits of the site. Five metal artefacts and one clay pipe stem were also retrieved from excavated features at Danesfort 6. The only iron artefact is a rowel spur (156:3) possibly of mid 15th century type. A tiny copper alloy tack (156:2) is of Type 12 in Grove?s typology of copper alloy tacks found in Winchester dating to the late medieval and postmedieval periods. Tacks were used for decorating leather and furnishings. Six samples were sent for AMS radiocarbon dating. One sample was dated to the middle Bronze Age - oak charcoal from hearth fill (C293 1631?1511BC, UBA 14029). Two samples were dated to the late Bronze Age: 1053?913BC (UBA 12200) and 1112?922BC (UBA 15557) both from separate samples from pit fill C27. Three dates returned provide evidence for medieval activity: hazel charcoal from pit fill C156 (AD1158?1254, UBA 12201); oak charcoal from pit fill C180 (AD1241?1379, UBA 12202) and a fragment of sheep radius from pit fill C62 (AD1225?1280, UBA 14030). The evidence from a number of surrounding excavations, carried out as part of the scheme, alludes to an active prehistoric landscape dating from the Neolithic period, with a substantial late Bronze Age settlement located in the adjacent site of Danesfort 5. The late Bronze Age activity at Danesfort 6 probably represents peripheral activity to this settlement. There is no contemporary activity in the immediate vicinity however this site provides evidence of continuity of settlement from the Neolithic. The Bronze Age evidence from the site is important locally as it adds to the growing corpus of prehistoric evidence recorded from the area. Combined with the documentary evidence from the surrounding towns, the medieval evidence from Danesfort 6 and other N9/N10 Phase 4 excavations suggests that the Danesfort area was a hospitable place during the medieval period, with little need for defensive measures. The evidence suggests a thriving market economy and relatively prosperous farmers living alongside and trading with the inhabitants of Kilkenny City. The city itself was ever-expanding and was even ? for a time ? the capital of medieval Ireland. During this period it traded with other Anglo-Norman towns such as Wexford, New Ross and Waterford in the southeastern region, and internationally with towns like Bristol and Chester. The Danesfort 6 site gives an insight into the undefended rural farmsteads of the time that would have been an important element of this vibrant economy. The site compliments the documentary evidence of a decline in the 14th century with evidence of deliberate and considered abandonment around this time. The medieval evidence from Danesfort 6 is very important to this local story. The site is also of regional and indeed national significance however, based on the paucity of excavated medieval rural houses.