What is recorded here

Enclosure in Russellstown, County Carlow: a curving ditch, fifty-seven metres across and eighty centimetres deep, ringed a Neolithic house on a south-west-facing crest. Charred grain in its fill dates the ditch to the early medieval period, suggesting people kept returning to mark, use or remember the older place. The road took only part of it; geophysical survey indicates the ditch continues beyond the excavation, still drawing its circle under the ground.

On the crest of a south-west-facing slope, partially excavated in advance of construction of the N9/N10 Kilcullen-Waterford Road (Excavation Licence number E2571/E2572). A curvilinear ditch was uncovered (exposed dimensions L 56.7m; Wth 1.42m; D 0.8m) surrounding a Neolithic house (see CW003-028----). A radio carbon date obtained from charred grain from the fill of the ditch places it in the early medieval period. Geophysical survey suggests that the ditch probably survives outside the road take and formed an enclosure. (Hegarty L. 2009, 49-50; O' Connell T. J. 2009, 28) References: Hegarty L. (2009) 'Russelstown Neolithic house/multi-phase site' in I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 2006: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 49-50 (206). Bray. Wordwell O' Connell T. J. 2009 N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford Scheme: Kilcullen to Powerstown. Archaeological Services Contract No. 4 - Resolution, Prumpelstown to Powerstown. Final Report on archaeological investigations at Site E2571/E2572, in the townland of Russellstown, Co. Carlow. Unpublished report, Headland Archaeology (Ireland) Ltd., Cork. Compiled by: Claire Breen Date of upload: 10 November 2010

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