Kilkenny Archaeological Project preliminary results

The Kilkenny Archaeological Project (KKAP): Heritage Council Irish National Strategic Archaeological Research (INSTAR) Programme 2008

Heritage Council grant reference: 16677 Principal Investigator: Cóilín Ó Drisceoil Date: 24th October 2008 1

Summary overview of 2008 results

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1.1 General Background In 2008 the Kilkenny Archaeological Project (KKAP) was established as a multi-disciplinary collaborative effort which aimed to transform the data produced by archaeological investigations that occurred in the city between 1968-2006 into publically accessible knowledge of the urban past. The project received Irish National Strategic Archaeological Research programme (INSTAR) funding for its first phase - ‘Archaeological Investigations in Kilkenny City: A Proposal for Knowledge Creation’ - and this has proved to be a highly successful data-gathering and assessment exercise (Figure 1.1). This document presents a summary overview of the key results of the project’s first year of work.

KKAP Phase 1 Report

www.kkap.ie website

Kilkenny Urban Archaeology Database (KKUAD)

Kilkenny Archaeological Project (KKAP)

Collabarative Partnerships

KKAP Bibliography

Figure 1.1: Summary diagram showing key components of the Kilkenny Archaeological Project, Phase 1 1

1.2

Key achievements in 2008:

1.2.1 The completion of the Kilkenny Urban Archaeology Database (KKUAD) The Kilkenny Urban Archaeology Database (KKUAD) covers the present Kilkenny Borough Council area and its immediate environs and was modelled on similar schemes that had been completed for a number of historic towns in England (eg. Lincoln (Stocker 2008) and Canterbury1) as part of the English Heritage review of urban archaeological strategies (1996-7).2 KKUAD records information on a Microsoft Access database and Geographical Information System (GIS) (ArcView 9.2) about all known recording ‘events’ in the city from 1845 and all recorded modern archaeological investigations (210 entities) since 1968 (Figure 1.2). The latter includes 275 individual site reports by 77 archaeologists.

Figure 1.2: Kilkenny Urban Archaeology Database screen-shot

1 2

http://www.canterbury.gov.uk/buildpage.php?id=3062 (accessed 20th October 2008) http://www.eng-h.gov.uk/ArchRev/rev96_7/urban.htm (accessed 20th October 2008)

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Figure 1.3: GIS map of Kilkenny showing areas of archaeological investigation

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Figure 1.4: GIS map of Kilkenny showing archaeological cuttings

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Figure 1.5: Example of GIS map of Kilkenny showing archaeological cuttings with KKAP entity numbers

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KKUAD took its information from a variety of sources: published and unpublished archaeological reports, historic maps and newspapers, the Urban Archaeology Survey, recorded findspots, and artefact catalogues in the National Museum of Ireland and Rothe House museum. As structured it is capable of being constantly updated, and it is invaluable for providing rapid and concise archaeological data as well as access to original site reports and publications. 96% of the archaeological investigation areas and their cuttings have been mapped onto the Geographical Information System (ArcView 9.2) (Figures 1.3-1.5).3 The GIS allows the dataset to be interrogated geographically in relation to a wide range of queries.

1.2.2 KKAP Report A report detailing the results of the 2008 phase of the project will be available by for the INSTAR completion date. This report provides an account of the project’s methodology, a historiography and overview of the archaeological discoveries in the city between 1968-2006 as well as an assessment of Kilkenny’s unpublished excavations. It also contains a detailed catalogue with accompanying mapping for each investigation and a methodology to bring the project to completion. A summary of the key results is provided below (Section 1.3).

1.2.3 Collaborative partnerships Partnerships have been formulated between KKAP and the following (Figure 1.6): 1. Kilkenny Local Authorities (Kilkenny Borough Council and Kilkenny County Council) who are providing digital Ordnance Survey mapping and aerial photographic coverage for the city. Should the project proceed into 2009 a dedicated office will be made available by Kilkenny Local Authorities to the project. 2. The Department of History National University of Ireland Maynooth are partners through John Bradley, senior lecturer in archaeology. 3. The National Monuments Service of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government have provided access to their reports archive and it is envisaged will be end-users of the Kilkenny Urban Archaeology database. 4. The Kilkenny Archaeological Society have provided KKAP access to their archive and library at Rothe House, Kilkenny. 3

There is insufficient information available for the remaining 4%.

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5. Seventy-six individual archaeologists and 15 consultancy firms have provided consent to include their investigation reports in the KKAP. 6. A panel of 16 specialists has been formulated to provide analysis of archaeological finds and palaeo-environmental material.

Principal Investigators Cóilín Ó Drisceoil, Kilkenny Archaeology.

Local Collaborative Partnerships Kilkenny Local Authorities Kilkenny Archaeological Society

National Collaborative Partnerships National Monuments Service, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Kilkenny Archaeology Associate Investigators John Bradley, NUI Maynooth Paul Stevens (Kilkenny Flood Relief Scheme) Richard Jennings (GIS) Leah McCullough (Research Assistant, Administration) Philip Kenny (Digital illustration) Specialist panel (16 analysists)

Academic Collaborative Partnership National University of Ireland Maynooth Professional Collaborative Partnerships 76 excavation directors and 15 archaeological consultancy firms.

Figure 1.6: Collaborative structure of the Kilkenny Archaeological Project

1.2.4 The production of the KKAP Bibliography The KKAP bibliography has been produced and includes 125 individual entries which are sorted by topic.

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1.2.5 KKAP website A website (www.kkap.ie) has been designed to be used as research portal for project participants as well as providing news and overviews of the project. Relevant project reports and other documents have also been uploaded. The website will be available online in December 2008 and it is envisaged that the complete KKUAD dataset will be obtainable on the website in year 2 of the project4

1.2.6 Public Awareness of Project Local newspapers have published reports on KKAP and the principal investigator has carried out interviews with local radio and has had briefing sessions with the Kilkenny Heritage and Conservation officers and the Kilkenny Archaeological Society.

Figure 1.7: Archaeological excavations underway at Highhayes, MacDonagh railway station 2006. These investigations uncovered a previously undocumented artisan’s quarter of the medieval city, including a pottery production centre and a baker’s yard.

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Subject to the agreement of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

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1.3 KKAP Phase 1 Report Key Results 1.3.1

Rate of archaeological investigation

Between 1968-2006 210 archaeological sites were investigated in the city in 275 individual recording ‘operations’ (Figure 1.8). 30 25

Number of Investigations in Kilkenny City, 1968-2006

20 15 10 5 0

Figure 1.8: Rate of archaeological investigations in Kilkenny city per annum 1.3.2

Comparison with other urban areas

In comparison to other towns such as Galway, Cork, Waterford and Limerick the rate of archaeological intervention compares very favourably (Figure 1.9). It is also however a reflection of the forms of development that have taken place within the historic centre, which have been in the main of small-scale character. 30 25

Number of Investigations in Kilkenny and Galway, 1968-2006

20 15

Kilkenny

10

Galway

5

2004

2001

1998

1995

1992

1989

1986

1983

1980

1977

1974

1971

1968

0

Figure 1.9: Rate of archaeological investigations by year in comparison with Galway 9

1.3.3

Type of archaeological intervention

Just under half (49.8%) of the 275 archaeological interventions comprised testing (Figure 1.10). 59 excavations occurred, 21.4% of the total number of interventions.

Investigation type 24

3 Excavation

59

52

Testing Monitoring 137

Architectural

Underwater

Figure 1.10 Type of archaeological investigation undertaken 1.3.4

Geographical spread

The geographical spread of archaeological investigations was quite broad, with each area of the city having experienced some form of investigation (Figure 1.11). Not surprisingly the Hightown, the heart of the medieval walled town, experienced the largest amount of sites investigated (120).

Number of sites per area of city Hightown 5 5

22

Irishtown

27 31

120

Suburb of St. Johns Suburb of Donaghmore Riverine

Figure 1.11: Number of archaeological investigation sites per area of Kilkenny city

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Figure 1.12: Locations of Grade 1-3archaeological investigation sites 11

1.3.5

Grading

Over half of the investigation (53.7%) produced results that can be considered (using the Heritage Council’s grading system)to be worthy of publication (Grades 1-3) (Figures 1.12-1.13). The list of sites proposed for inclusion in the next stages of the project is set out in Table 1.

Site Grade 60

Quantity

50 40 30

55

54

55

20

39

10 4

0

3

1

2

3

4

5

Unknown

Significance Category

Figure 1.13: Significance grading of archaeological investigations for Kilkenny city (grading after Doyle et.al. 2001, section 3.2).

1.3.6

Publications

Just 6.1% (13 sites) of Grade 1-3 investigations, have been published (Figure 1.14).5

Quantity

Quantity of published sites 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

Sites not published Sites published 1

2

3

4

5

Site significance category

Figure 1.14: Quantity of published sites per significance category 5

Publication in the annual ‘Excavations’ bulletins is not considered as ‘full’ publication.

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Table 1: Table of sites proposed for inclusion in the Kilkenny Archaeological Project 2009-2011

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14

15

Table of sites for inclusion in Kilkenny Archaeological Project. Please note that this includes published sites as well as unpublished.

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1.3.7

Final reports

73% of Grade 1-3 sites are at final report stage as per Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government guidelines.

Quantity of grade 1-5 sites at final report stage 60 50

Quantity

40 30

Status to be checked Sites not at final report stage

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Sites at final report stage

10 0 1

2

3

4

5

Site significance category

Figure 1.15: Quantity of Grade 1-5 sites at final report stage

1.4

Overview of the archaeological dataset by period

Twenty-eight years of archaeological excavation in Kilkenny has amassed a large amount of archaeological evidence. In chronological terms it ranges from the late Mesolithic (c.5500-400 BC) to 20th century with the high medieval (c.1169-1350) and post-medieval (c.1550-1650) being particularly well represented.

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350 300

Site Period

Quantity

250 200 150 100 50 6

7

148

295

Prehistoric

Early Medieval

Medieval

Post-Medieval

0

Figure 1.16: Total number of archaeological periods represented by all sites represented in the Kilkenny Urban Archaeology Database.

Site Grades 1-3 and chronological periods 300 Quantity

250 200 150 100

Grade 3

50

Grade 2

0

Grade 1

Figure 1.17: Number of sites grades 1-3 per chronological period

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The range of site types discovered during investigations in Kilkenny City, 1968-2006 50 45

44 43

40 33

35

26

25

21 20 19

20

17

15

15 14 13 12

3

3

2

2

1

1

1 Prehistoric Burial

4

Fulacht Fiadh

4

Castle

5

Ovens

5

Weirs

6

5

'Pleasure House'

9

10

Artefact Find Spots

Quantity

30

Kilns

Trades and Crafts

Drains

Wells

River Dredging

Bridges

Industrial

Mills

Manufacturing

Streets

Reclamation

Religion

Burials

Gardens

Pre-1650 Housing

Defences

Post-1650 Housing

Backlands

0

Site type Figure 1.18: Graph showing site types documented in KKUAD

1.4.1

Prehistoric Kilkenny

A small number of indications for prehistoric activity within the city have been discovered in recent years, most notably during the course of the Kilkenny flood relief scheme (2000-2005). In total 5 prehistoric discoveries have been documented- Mesolithic flints, Neolithic polished stone axes, an Early Bronze Age cremation burial, a Late Bronze Age fish-trap and fulacht fiadh.

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1.4.2

Early Medieval Kilkenny (c.800-1169 AD)

Seven sites have reported evidence for Early Medieval activity. What may have been an inner vallum of the ecclesiastical precinct of Cill Chainnigh has recently been discovered in the ‘Deanery garden’ beside St. Canice’s cathedral. The site also produced evidence for antler working and a corn-drying kiln that may be of Early Medieval date. On the south side of the city a section of a similar enclosure around the Domhnach Mór was documented on Father Hayden road. Excavations at Kilkenny castle have uncovered what has been reported as evidence for a secular settlement site of Early Medieval date. This contained a c.4.6m x 4.2m sod-built structure with a central hearth, nearby to which was a small smelting-furnace for bronze and iron working.

Figure 1.19: Test-excavations in 2006 on this site at the Deanery Orchard, St. Canice’s cathedral provided important evidence regarding the Early Medieval archaeology of the site.

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1.4.3

High Medieval Kilkenny (1169-c.1350 AD)

Activity in the High Medieval period has been documented at 130 sites in Kilkenny. Life in the Middle Ages in all its forms is represented:. trade, exploitation of natural resources, specialisation, technology, manufacturing, social differentiation, religious aspirations, death and burial.

Figure 1.20: St. Canice’s cathedral and round tower dominates the Irishtown of Kilkenny. Numerous archaeological investigations have taken place around the cathedral. All of the major medieval ecclesiastical sites have been investigated (on 19 occasions), including the range and church at St. John’s, the cloister and north-transept at St. Francis’ abbey and the chancel at the Dominican ‘Black Abbey’. The almost complete plan of the medieval Vicar’s choral on Vicar street was recorded by excavation and detailed recording and excavation has taken place at the Bishop’s Palace. Some 20 instances of human remains have been excavated, including 255 medieval burials at Abbey street and lesser quantities at St. Mary’s Lane.

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Thirty-three investigations have taken place on the town walls, providing important information regarding the development and military technology employed from the early 13th-late 17th century. What may have been the ditch of the primary defences was recorded at William Street and timber piles associated with the later 13th century extension to the defences at Abbey Street. In addition there have been a series of substantial excavations carried out on the walls of St. John’s suburb.

Figure 1.21: The environs of the Dominican ‘Black Abbey’, founded 1225 have been extensively excavated. The former chancel has been excavated, as has a section of its precinct wall and a large proportion of its medieval cemetery. Very little direct evidence for medieval housing has been recorded. Part of a sill-beam house was recorded at Brennan’s yard, Irishtown and a timber-framed building on James’ street may also be of medieval date. There is also the possibility that many of the cellars recorded on High Street and Parliament street originated in the Middle Ages. Kilkenny’s medieval bridges have received much attention as a consequence of the works associated with the 2000-2005 flood relief scheme. Much of the 16th century Green’s bridge was recorded and 22

excavated and at John’s Bridge a major collection of graveslabs was found at the abutments. A previously undocumented bridge has also been unearthed at John’s priory in a separate project. At Kilkenny castle extensive excavations have been undertaken which have documented in some considerable detail the main building phases and their associated material culture. In addition part of the outer curtain wall has been excavated. Direct archaeological evidence for tanning pits, a pottery kiln, drying kilns and lead working have all been documented and a vast range of artefacts in pottery, leather, wood, iron and copper-alloy present information on the crafts and trades that were undertaken within the city. Roughly half the area of the Hightown and Irishtown, and almost the entire suburb of St. John’s was constructed on the former flood-plains of the Nore and Breagagh rivers. Archaeological material unearthed within the reclamation zone can therefore be expected to be better preserved (as a consequence of anaerobic conditions) than elsewhere in the city. Seventeen investigations have produced direct evidence for medieval reclamation in the form of massive dumps and timber/stone revetments.

1.4.4

Post-Medieval Kilkenny (c.1550-1650)

Sites that could be dated to between c.1550-1650 amounted to 43, with 25 producing evidence for structures that related to the boom in stone house construction that occurred within the city at this time. Architectural recording has taken place at number of these (eg. the Shee House, 91-3 High Street and the Rothe House, Parliament street) and a large stone building with a battered wall was excavated on Poyntz’s Lane. Cellars have been recorded on many occasions including fine barrelvaulted examples at the Langton House, High Street. Milling was an important industry in Kilkenny in the late 16th-early 17th century and the earliest phases of a number the excavated sites were of such a date.

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Figure 1.22: The late Tudor Rothe House on Parliament street has been the focus for excavations both within the building and also its rear-garden.

1.4.5

18th-19th century Kilkenny

The archaeology of milling forms the most significant component of the investigations from the 18th-19th century in Kilkenny. Thirteen excavation took place on mills and/or their associated infrastructure during the Kilkenny flood relief scheme. Key sites included Mill Island, Ormonde Mill and the archer ‘tuck mill’. Excavation and architectural recording has also been carried out on a number of 18th century houses in the city, most notably the ‘New Building’.

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1.5

The Artefacts and Palaeoenvironmental remains from Kilkenny’s archaeological investigations

Cumulative totals for all artefact-types and palaeoenvironmental samples are presented in Table 2 below.6 Medieval pottery forms the most commonly recovered find-type with post-medieval pottery and metal finds also being prominent. A substantial quantity - 88% - of the excavated material has been already subjected to specialist analysis (Figure 1.23). Significantly, the archaeological works on the Kilkenny City Flood Relief Scheme (2000-2005) and the excavations at Highhayes (MacDonagh railway station) produced 59% of the total finds assemblage from the city.7 Table 2: Cumulative list of quantities of artefacts, human remains and palaeoenvironmental samples recovered from Grade 1-3 Kilkenny City Investigations. The table also includes final tallies on the quantities of artefacts that require analysis. Find Type

Quantity Found

Medieval Pottery Post medieval Pottery Ferrous Metal Non-Ferrous Metal Glass Small stone Coins Bone Artefacts Clay pipe Burial Monuments Structural Timbers Wooden artefacts Leather Roof tiles Floor tiles Architectural Stone Human Burials Human Disarticulated Bone Animal Bone Environmental Samples Wood/charcoal

16488 9471 2816 1633 2663 93 296 31 2466 47 72 51 329 144 193 347 1155 244

Other sites with same find type (unquantified) 7 27 6 4 18 0 0

Quantity Already Analysed

Quantity to be Analysed

1

14414 8543 2389 1500 2330 31 170 6 1917 22 23 19 326 82 37 347 884 244

2074 928 427 133 333 62 126 25 549 25 49 32 3 62 156 27 271 0

25941 122

7 1

25939 122

2 1

399

0

399

0

19

2 5 0

These quantities should be regarded as minimum numbers. The third major project was at Kilkenny castle (Murtagh 1993) but no reliable, up-to-date finds totals are available for this site. 6 7

25

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Metallurgical Waste

Human Disarticulated Bone

Floor tiles

Wooden artefacts

Bone Artefacts

Roof tiles

Structural Timbers

Small stone

Burial Monuments

Coins

Clay pipe

Human Burials

Ferrous Metal

Medieval Pottery

Glass

Architectural Stone

Post medieval Pottery

Non-Ferrous Metal

Leather

Animal Bone

Environmental Samples

Wood/charcoal samples

Percentage of finds/samples analysed by specialists

100%

80%

60%

40%

20% To be analysed

0%

Analysed

Figure 1.23: Percentages of finds/samples where specialist reports have been carried out

Figure 1.24: This 14th century jug from Highhayes is a copy of similar vessels from Redcliffe, England

Bibliography Prendergast, E.

1970

‘Burials at Gallowshill’, Old Kilkenny Review Vol.22, 64.

Foley, C.

1975

‘The discovery of a portion of 13th Century wall at Kilkenny Castle’, Old Kilkenny Review 1(2), 103.

Cotter, C.

1992

‘Archaeological Excavations in Dean Street, Kilkenny 1990’, Old Kilkenny Review, 4 (4), 1065-1075.

Bradley, J. and

1992

King, H.A.. Kiely, J.

‘Archaeological trial excavations in Kilkenny’, Old Kilkenny Review 4 (4), 973-87.

2000

‘Archaeological excavation at No. 26 Patrick Street, Kilkenny’, Old Kilkenny Review 57 116-122.

Ó Drisceoil, C.

2004

‘Probing the Past: a geophysical survey at St Canice's Cathedral, Kilkenny’, Old Kilkenny Review 56, 80-106.

Doyle, I.W.

2005

‘Excavation of a riverside circular tower in College Park, Kilkenny City’, Old Kilkenny Review 57, 32-42.

Ó Drisceoil, C.

2005

‘Archaeological excavations at the rear of 63 High Street, Kilkenny’, Old Kilkenny Review 57, 43-61.

O Meara, B.

2006

‘A preliminary account of recent excavations adjacent to Kilkenny Union Workhouse’, Old Kilkenny Review 58, 154-162.

Stevens, P.

2006

‘Four Excavations in Kilkenny City (1999-2001): Part 1 The Medieval Findings’, Old Kilkenny Review 58, 47-66.

Stevens, P.

2007

‘Four Excavations in Kilkenny City (1999-2001): Part 2 The Late 27

Medieval/Post-medieval findings’, Old Kilkenny Review 59, 18-37.

Stocker, D.

2008

‘Explaining LARA, the Lincoln Archaeological Research Assessment in its

policy context’ in G. Fairclough, R. Harrison, J.H. Jameson and J. Schofield, The Heritage Reader, 340345, Routledge, New York.

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