Enclosure in Holdenstown

On high ground in a commanding position. Excavated in 2007 in advance of the N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford road improvement scheme (Licence no. E3681). A D-shaped ditched enclosure (ext. diam. 40m; av. Wth 2.6m; D 1.15m) that respected an earlier linear feature extending NE-SW across the excavated area. The enclosure truncated two ring-ditches (KK024-117004- and KK024-117005-) and two burials (KK024-117006-) located within one of the ring-ditches. A third ring-ditch (KK024-117003-) was in the interior and a fourth in this cluster (KK024-117002-) (visible on an aerial photograph GB89.AP.25 taken in 1989) remains outside the area of excavation to the NW. Examination of the fill of the ditch indicated that there was no evidence for an internal or external bank. Silt in the primary fill indicated that it had been left open once constructed. An undug causeway (Wth 4.5m) faced E. Although on high ground, naturally occurring springs ensured the ditch filled naturally with water. A secondary fill contained a large quantity of animal bone as well as five possibly worked stones and a metal blade. The upper fill contained a possible whetstone. There were 5 inhumation burials within one of the associated ring-ditches and two further inhumations and a possible cremation pit (KK024-117007-) were excavated within this larger enclosure. (Whitty 2009; 2010, 248, no. 938) See attached: KK024-117001-_01 aerial photograph (GB89.AP.25, 22 July 1989) Revised by: Mary Tunney Date of revision: 10 December 2013