Burnt pit in Boscabell

Archaeologically excavated in advance of construction of the N8 Cashel Bypass and the N74 Link Road. The excavation uncovered the remains of a previously unknown D-shaped enclosure (dims. c. 30m x 23m) defined by a V-shaped fosse (Wth 1.2-1.65m; D 0.68m). The fosse became shallower as it approached the edge of a wetland area to the SE. The eastern terminus of the enclosure fosse had been recut and realigned slightly more to the N. The N-facing entrance was defined by a causeway (Wth 2.5m). There was no evidence of a bank. Near the centre of the enclosure was a small oval-shaped pit (Wth 0.53-0.42m; D 0.14m) filled with grey-brown charcoal-flecked silty clay and several small fragments of cremated bone. In the SW corner of the enclosure four pits and a stake-hole were uncovered. The pits were oval or circular in shape, (diam. 0.3-0.83m; max. D 0.3m). Three were filled with grey-brown charcoal-flecked sandy silts and one contained traces of oxidised clay and fragments of burnt bone. A further two pits were identified in the SE corner of the enclosure. The first was a rectangular-shaped pit (dims. 1.86m x 1.31m; D 0.35m). The second was an oblong (dims. 1.05m x 0.62m; D 0.32m). Both were filled with grey-brown charcoal-flecked sandy silts. To the NW of the enclosure and close to the entrance were three possible stake-holes and a post-hole. An isolated stake-hole was uncovered to the S of the enclosure and two small pits to the NE. The pits were filled with dark-brown to grey charcoal-flecked sandy silts and contained moderate quantities of small stones. A further two pits were to the W of the enclosure. The first was rectangular in shape (dims. 0.9m x 0.85m; D 0.29m). This pit was truncated by the second larger circular pit (dims. 1.23m x 1.1m; D 0.42m). Both pits were filled with charcoal-flecked silty sands. A small pit and a possible post-hole were close to the NW edge of the enclosure. The pit had an oval shape with a V-shaped profile (dims. 0.7m x 0.6m; D 0.3m). It was filled with silts and sands. An additional two pits were to the NW of the enclosure close to the modern field boundary. The first was oval in shape with a bowl-shaped profile (dims. 0.6m x 0.7m; D 0.3m). The second pit had no archaeological significance. A small cluster of six post-holes and a possible pit were uncovered close to the edge of the enclosure to the SW. The pit was semicircular in shape with a bowl-shaped profile (diam. 1.57m; D 0.35m) and filled with grey to brown charcoal-flecked silty clays and occasional small stones. Further to the west was an isolated post-hole. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 27 August 2014