Structure in Ballyquirk

In an area prone to waterlogging although on the crest of a hill with panoramic views of the Blackstairs to the E and Slievenamon to the S. Excavated in 2007/8 in advance of the N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford road scheme (Licence no. E3865). The site consisted of three small possible structures consisting of postholes and stakeholes as well as some dispersed pits and other smaller features. Structure 1 (diam. c. 3m) consisted of a subcircular arrangement of stake-holes. Two clusters of three stake-holes were noted at ENE and SW. The clusters may have been deliberately positioned to provide structural or possible roof supports. Four stake-holes to the N of the main walls may have represented a small entrance feature or porch. It was defined by two pairs of stake-holes – W and E. Structure 2 (diam. 4m) consisted of 7 post-holes that formed a semicircular plan, open to the SW. Two of the post-holes cut stake-holes of Structure 1 so it is interpreted as being later. An eighth post-hole located in the centre of the area defined by the structure may have been related. Hazel charcoal from a post-hole at Structure 2 returned a radiocarbon date of 1690-1515 cal BC (UBA-12231). A small shallow pit within Structure 2 contained cremated human bone (KK020-104----) indicating a possible ritual function for these structures. Structure 3 (diam 3.5m) was located to the SE of Structures 1 and 2 and was formed by a cluster of stake-holes in a subcircular plan. One of the stake-holes at NW cut through an earlier pit. (Elliot 2010, 233, no. 878; Elliot and Coughlan 2012) Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 6 November 2013