Hut site in Drinnanstown South

Identified in 2001 through the monitoring of topsoil-stripping on the E slope of Boston Hill (OD 538 feet) to facilitate the expansion of a quarry (Excavations 2001, No. 638, 01E0916 www.excavations.ie), and excavated in 2001 (Excavation Licence No. 02E1371: www.excavations.ie). A semicircular area (int diam. 6.5m) was defined by a slot-trench (Wth 0.4m; av. D 0.3m) with a large, oval post-hole (diams. L 0.7m; Wth 0.4m) at the N terminus and a smaller post-hole (diams. L 0.5m; Wth 0.3m) at the S terminus. Two similar, oblong pits (dims. L 1m; Wth 0.6m; D 0.4m) lay c. 3m from the S exterior and contained charcoal-rich fills. One large (L 0.42m; Wth 0.55m) and two smaller (L 0.22m; Wth 0.18m and L 0.2m; Wth 0.16m) post-holes were situated on the W exterior of the slot-trench and respected the curve of the slot-trench, forming a parallel arc 1.2m from its external edge. One small stake-hole (diam. 0.12m) was situated on the interior of the site. During pre-excavation field-walking of the area, several artefacts were found, including a probably Bronze Age arrowhead, several flint fragments and half a spindle-whorl. Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 10 June 2011