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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 AR114, Ballyquirk 3 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 Ruth Elliott under Ministerial Direction A032 and Excavation Registration Number E3865 issued by the DOEHLG in consultation with the National Museum of Ireland for IAC. The fieldwork took place between the 10 December 2007 and 22 January 2008. The site consisted of three small possible structures consisting of postholes and stakeholes as well as some dispersed pits and other smaller features. It has been dated to the middle Bronze Age but possibly represents at least two separate phases of activity. Some of the features were cut by other features and two different middle Bronze Age radiocarbon dates were returned, indicating at least a couple of centuries between activity. Structure 1 consisted of a sub-circular arrangement of stakeholes with a diameter of approximately 3m. Two clusters of three stakeholes were noted on the east/northeast and south-west sides of the structure. The clusters may have been deliberately positioned to provide structural or possible roof supports. Four stakeholes to the north of the main walls may have represented a small entrance feature or porch. It was defined by two pairs of stakeholes – one on the west side and on the east. Structure 2 consisted of 7 postholes that formed a semi-circular plan, open to the south-west. Two of the postholes cut stakeholes of Structure 1 so it is interpreted as being later. It had a diameter of 4m. Three of the postholes in the south of the structure may have contained posts that were burnt in situ. An eighth posthole located in the centre of the area defined by the structure may have been related. Structure 3 was located to the south-east of Structures 1 and 2 and was formed by a cluster of stakeholes in a sub-circular plan with a diameter of 3.5m. One of the stakeholes in the north-west of the structure cut through an earlier pit. This was the largest stakehole in the structure, maybe deliberately so because of the softer ground caused by the earlier pit. Other features on the site consisted of small clusters of relatively dispersed features consisting primarily of pits but also with isolated stakeholes and postholes with no apparent structural function. One of the features in the north-west of the site may have been a charcoal production pit, as it contained evidence of in situ burning and contained a high concentration of exclusively oak charcoal within its fill. This may represent a later phase of activity as these features are often associated with iron working dating to the Iron Age and early medieval periods predominantly, although earlier and later examples are known. Another pit located in the area, enclosed by Structures 1 and 2, contained a quantity of cremated human bone and probably represents a disturbed burial. No remains of an urn were identified and no artefacts were recovered from any of the features on the site. The shallow cremation pit contained 332.2g of burnt human bone. Although it is difficult to determine with certainty whether the small quantity of bone retrieved from the pit relates to a practice of partial/selective deposition and/or post-depositional disturbance, it appears probable that, given the high levels of fragmentation encountered, this burial had been subject to some form of post-depositional disturbance prior to excavation. Analysis of the burnt bone indicated that this burial contained the remains of a minimum number of one adolescent or adult individual of undetermined sex (Coughlan, Appendix 2.2). Two samples were sent for AMS radiocarbon dating. The results of the analysis dated hazel charcoal from the fill C98 of a post-pipe fill, from a posthole associated with Structure 2. The 2 sigma calibrated date was 1690–1515BC (UBA 12231). The results of the analysis dated blackthorn charcoal from the fill C145 of a posthole not directly associated with any of the structures. The 2 sigma calibrated date was 1378– 1121BC (UBA 12232). The excavation at Ballyquirk 3 has identified three possible temporary structures formed by postholes and stakeholes. It is likely that these were the result of transient activity on the periphery of an area to the south (Ballyquirk 2) that was the focus of more permanent domestic settlement, and a direct relationship between it and the nearby site of Ballyquirk 2 cannot be ruled out. The site is important locally as there are no previously recorded monuments in the vicinity. It is of a wider regional significance when studied as part of a group of sites excavated as part of the road scheme extending south to Blanchvillespark 3 which show a continuity of settlement in this area from the Neolithic period.