Excavation

During the extensive excavations in Waterford city rubbish pits were found throughout the stratified levels, and the upper surface of the stratified material was cut by further pits. There were 496 pits in total, which contained most of the artefacts from the sites, and they were classified into six types, unlined (415), clay-lined (5), wattle-lined (24), timber-lined (14), stone-lined (37), and a single pit lined with oak chips was found. The unlined pits are ubiquitous but timber-lined pits only came into use during the late 11th/early 12th century. The stone-lined pits are more typical of the 13th century, although they could be cleaned-out and re-used at a later date. There was also evidence of twenty ovens mainly dating from the 13th to the 15th centuries. These appeared as areas of burning around a shallow pit, sometimes with traces of a circular stone structure. Ten kilns (WA009-005126-), used either to make lime or to dry corn, were also recorded. (Hurley and Sheehan 1997; Scully and McEneaney 1997) Hurley, M. F. and Sheehan, C. M. (1997) 'Section 9 Ovens and kilns' in M. Hurley et al. (1977) Late Viking age and medieval Waterford: excavations 1986-92, 273-7. Waterford Corporation. Scully, O. M. B. and McEneaney, E. (1997) 'Section 8: (iv) Pits', in M. Hurley et al., Late Viking age and medieval Waterford: excavations 1986-1992, 244-72. Waterford Corporation. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Waterford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1999). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 23 December 2008