What is recorded here

Six charcoal pits and a small burnt spread lay hidden beneath Rathcrogue until road builders broke the soil. The marks suggest people stacked wood, smothered it in ash, and waited for heat to turn living trees into black fuel. They may have worked there at dusk, listening for the crackle of changing air, before carrying the finished charcoal toward markets or forges.

Partially excavated in advance of construction of the N9/N10 Kilcullen-Waterford Road (Excavation Licence number E2593), six charcoal-production pits, a number of postholes and stake-holes and a burnt spread (L 0.65m; Wth 0.57m) were uncovered. (Hughs J. 2009, 49) Reference: Hughs J. (2009) 'Rathcrogue Charcoal-production pits and associated features' in I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 2006: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 49 (203). Bray. Wordwell Compiled by: Claire Breen Date of upload: 10 November 2010

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