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Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd (IAC), funded by the National Roads Authority (NRA) through Kilkenny County Council, undertook an excavation at the site of AR138, Coneykeare 1 along the proposed N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford Scheme, Phase 4 – Knocktopher to Powerstown (Figure 1). The following report describes the results of archaeological excavation at that site. The area was fully excavated by Sinéad Phelan under Ministerial Direction A032 and Excavation Registration Number E3683 issued by the DOEHLG in consultation with the National Museum of Ireland for IAC. The fieldwork took place between the 17 September and 17 October 2007. Coneykeare 1 was a previously unidentified ringfort that was recorded during a programme of archaeological testing. The excavation area measured 40m by 50m (east–west) and was located in the townland of Coneykeare, Co. Carlow, at the northern end of the proposed motorway. Approximately 15% of the ringfort enclosure was within the proposed roadtake and therefore full preservation by archaeological record was required of this portion. The remaining portion to the west was preserved in situ. The excavation at Coneykeare 1 has identified the site of a roughly circular enclosure. This enclosure consisted of a narrow penannular ditch with a small causewayed entrance on its east side. The ditch has been dated to the late Iron Age/early medieval period. A few centuries later the site experienced considerable reconstruction and the original ditch was replaced, or re-inforced with a larger, wider, and deeper enclosing ditch that extended further to the east and south than the original. The new enclosure also had its entrance in the east, a few metres outside the original entrance. Three specific groupings of postholes were recorded. The first was within the entranceway to the original “inner” enclosure, although dating of these features suggests that they are associated with the second phase of occupation rather than the first. Two further posthole clusters (Posthole Groups 1 and 2) were located to the south of the entrance and may have represented small structures. Both groups were extended in a linear pattern on either side of the “outer” ditch suggesting that they either represented activity on both sides or activity that had been truncated by the later ditch. This was not conclusive, but as with the postholes at the entrance, dating suggests they are associated with a second phase of activity. To the east of the enclosures there were two possible kilns at the same location, one cutting the other. The earlier kiln was less convincing and had no surviving evidence of in situ burning although charred seeds were found within its fills. The second kiln was figure-of-eight or dumbbell shaped, which is typical of the early medieval period. It is felt they were directly associated to activities within the enclosures. Five samples were sent for AMS radiocarbon dating. The results of the analysis dated alder charcoal from the fill C23 of a cereal drying kiln. The 2 sigma calibrated date was AD650–764 (UBA 12245). Willow charcoal from the fill C53 of a posthole in Posthole Group 1 was dated with a 2 sigma calibrated date of AD656–766 (UBA 12246). The results of the analysis also dated hazel and young oak charcoal from the fills C48 and C68 of two postholes in the entrance area. The 2 sigma calibrated dates were AD651–765 (UBA 12247) and AD658–768 (UBA 12248) respectively. Pomoideae charcoal from the fill C110 of the internal ditch C8 was dated to AD429– 568 (UBA 12249). The excavation at Coneykeare 1 has identified evidence of a family farmstead that may have its origins in the later Iron Age/early medieval transition. This in itself is significant, but of additional interest is that the site was re-modelled, re-inforced and extended with the excavation of a second larger ditch, which may have created a bivallate enclosure on the east, south and west sides. The site is of extreme local importance given the lack of other excavated remains in the vicinity and the potential complexity of the sites’ existence. It is also of a wider regional importance in terms of our understanding of the origins and development of ringforts and their role as farmsteads with multiple activities including, but not exclusive to cereal production, metalworking, and animal husbandry.