EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Waterford
‘Kiltera’ (Dromore td.), Co. Waterford
Ecclesiastical Settlement
Grid Ref: X10589134 (210580/091343)
SMR No: WA029-042001
Excavation Licence: N/A
Excavation Duration: September 1934
Site Director: R.A.S. Macalister (University College Dublin)
An enclosure known locally as ‘Kiltera’ revealed a series of early trenches, three ogham
stones, a bell-shaped pit associated with an area of ironworking, an undated wall feature and
a cemetery of relatively recent date. Approximately three quarters of the interior of the
enclosure was excavated as part of a state grant for the relief of unemployment.
The enclosure was located in a field bounded on its eastern side by the deflected course of
the River Goish and on the north and west by a side-road. It was situated in Dromore
townland and marked as ‘site of Kiltera graveyard’ in the First Edition O.S. map. Two ogham
stones were recorded at the site in the nineteenth century and sparked an interest in the
excavation.
Prior to excavation, the enclosure contained an almost effaced circular rampart,
approximately 37m in diameter. A mound of stones was uncovered close to the western edge
of the enclosure and two ogham stones were recorded on it in the nineteenth century. Some
possible ruined structures intermingled with the roots of a sycamore tree were identified near
the rampart at the eastern side but were not investigated. Excavations uncovered a range of
features.
The undisturbed subsoil of the site consisted of a compact reddish gravel layer which it was
suggested was confined to the area of the enclosure. The gravelly subsoil was covered by a
blackish loamy organic-rich deposit with occasional pockets of charcoal. Water worn pebbles
and fragments of white quartz were identified just below the grass-sods. A few fragments of
reddish quartz and jasper also occurred and associated with them were a few scraps of
modern china.
The first phase of activity comprised two roughly east-west trenches traversing the enclosure.
The inner trench- 0.8m deep- was excavated to the south of the centre of the enclosure. It
cut into the underlying subsoil and was uncovered beneath a footing of water-worn pebbles,
interpreted as a possible smelting-furnace (See Phase 2). The outer trench was uncovered
6m to the south of the inner trench near the southern enclosure perimeter. The terminals of
both these trenches were lost in the parts of the enclosure left un-dug. These trenches were
interpreted as forming part of some system of artificial water-courses dug in connection with
the nearby river whose original course appears to have run quite close to the site.
The second phase of activity comprised a subterranean circular pit associated with an area of
ironworking. The pit (Fig. 283) was bell-shaped (1.8m deep by 2.3m in diameter) and was
uncovered just west of the centre of the enclosure. Several pockets of ashes, iron slag and a
possible anvil and pestle were uncovered within the fill of the pit while slag was also
recovered around the area of the pit. The pit was not stone-lined and was interpreted by the
excavator as a ‘pit-dwelling of some kind’ associated with ironworking activities. Alternatively,
the bell-shaped pit may have been used for the storage of grain (Proudfoot 1961, 109).
Associated with the bell-shaped pit was a black clay deposit, 6m to its south from which were
recovered numerous fragments of iron slag. The black clay deposit rested on a footing of
water-worn stones- interpreted as a possible hearth for an iron smelting-furnace. Several
fragments of iron slag were embedded into the water-worn pebbles. A short distance to the
south was recovered a bed of ashes also associated with iron slag. It was suggested that the
possible anvil and pestle may have been used to pulverize the iron ore, and local memory
recorded that a band of iron ore had been exploited in the district till recent times.
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