Highhays, Kilkenny: A Medieval Pottery Production Centre in South-East Ireland

By Emma Devine and Cóilín Ó Drisceoil

This richly illustrated book presents the first comprehensive study of the making and marketing of pottery in medieval Ireland. Focusing on a well-preserved 14th-century pottery production center which was excavated in 2006 at Highhays, outside the walls of the renowned Anglo-Norman town of Kilkenny in south-east Ireland, the authors describe its kiln, workshops and working areas, as well as its ‘Highhays Ware’ products: jugs, jars, cooking-pots, money-boxes and ridge tiles.

Foremost amongst the outputs from the kiln site were high-quality, wheel-thrown, green-glazed jugs that were closely modeled on French Saintonge and Bristol Redcliffe archetypes and the volume describes the distinctive processes, kiln-firing technology and raw materials that were employed to produce these, and the other wares, represented on the site. The book also presents the results of an innovative plasma spectrometry and petrological analysis of Highhays Ware, which facilitated identification of the source for the raw potting clays areas – located at a considerable distance from Highhays in north county Kilkenny – used in its production, in addition to allowing for a study of the uncharacteristically broad distribution of the ware throughout the south-east of Ireland. The authors also place the production of pottery at Highhays in its broader context by presenting an overall review of the archaeological and historical evidence for pottery making and consumption in medieval Ireland, as well as by exploring the cultural background and social status of potters in the Anglo-Norman colony. Supporting the analysis and interpretation of the Highhays site and its assemblage are specialist and scientific contributions on the pottery, tiles, ceramic production material, metal finds, coins and archaeobotanical and animal bone remains from the site, archaeomagnetic and radiocarbon dating and plasma spectrometry and petrological analysis.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Oxbow Books
• Release date: Aug 9, 2022
• ISBN: 9781789258547

Emma Devine

Emma Devine† was the co-director of excavations at Highhays and the managing director of Kilkenny Archaeology. She was also formerly the curator of the Kilkenny Archaeological Society museum and her main research interests were urban archaeology and community archaeology.

Book preview

For Béa, le gach grá

Published in the United Kingdom in 2022 by

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© Oxbow Books and the individual authors 2022

Hardback Edition: ISBN 978-1-78925-853-0

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Cover image: Reconstruction painting, based largely on the excavated evidence, of the Highhays pottery production centre, Kilkenny at sunset c. AD 1340, view from north (Painting by Philip Armstrong, Paint the Past with Cóilín Ó Drisceoil).

Contents

List of figures

List of tables

Authors and contributors

Acknowledgements

Abbreviations

Note on conventions

Archaeological excavation archive

Foreword by Minister for Heritage Malcolm Noonan

Preface

Summary

1. INTRODUCTION

Emma Devine and Cóilín Ó Drisceoil

Introduction

The medieval town of Kilkenny, summary history

The medieval suburb of St John’s, Kilkenny

The Augustinian Priory of St John the Evangelist

Magdalen leper hospital

The town wall of St John’s

Streets and routeways

Housing and burgage plots

The Fair Green

Common land

Trades and occupations in St John’s

Milling

Eighteenth–twentieth century St John’s

Highhays specific history

Excavation circumstances and project sequence

Archaeological chronology of Highhays

Period 1

Period 2

Period 3

2. THE POTTERY PRODUCTION CENTRE EXCAVATIONS (AREA 1, PERIOD 1)

Emma Devine, Cóilín Ó Drisceoil and Niamh Curtin

Introduction

The pottery kiln, by Emma Devine and Cóilín Ó Drisceoil

The kiln structure

Finds from the kiln

The kiln’s fuel charge and superstructure deposits

Pottery production material analysis, by Niamh Curtin

Methodology

Quantification

Kiln superstructure, by Niamh Curtin and Cóilín Ó Drisceoil

Highhays kiln affinities: structure and chronology, by Niamh Curtin and Cóilín Ó Drisceoil

A reconstruction of the Highhays kiln, by Cóilín Ó Drisceoil

Buildings and pitting in the production centre (Area 1), by Emma Devine and Cóilín Ó Drisceoil

Pot store/workshop (Structure A)

Clay store (Structure B)

Workshed (Structure C)

Drying oven

Cess-pits

Pitting

Forming the pots, by Cóilín Ó Drisceoil

Throwing

Glaze production

Reduced ware production

3. BAKE-YARD EXCAVATIONS (AREA 2, PERIOD 1), ABANDONMENT AND SUBSEQUENT LAND-USE (AREAS 1 AND 2, PERIODS 2 AND 3)

Cóilín Ó Drisceoil

Introduction

Boundary ditch

Bake-yard

Boundary walls

Corn-drying kiln

Bake oven

Storeshed? (Structure D)

Cereal processing and baking

Abandonment and subsequent land-use (Areas 1 and 2, Period 2)

Area 1, Period 2

Area 2, Periods 2b–c

4. THE PRODUCTS OF THE HIGHHAYS POTTERY

Cóilín Ó Drisceoil, Clare McCutcheon and Joanna Wren

The medieval pottery from Highhays, by Clare McCutcheon

Methodology

Highhays ware

Kilkenny-type cooking ware

Leinster Cooking Ware

Imported pottery

Highhays ware pottery: fabrics and forms, by Cóilín Ó Drisceoil

Highhays creamy ware

Highhays Redcliffe ware

Highhays cooking ware

Highhays Redcliffe coarseware

The scale, chronology and duration of ceramic production at Highhays, by Cóilín Ó Drisceoil

Clay building material, by Joanna Wren

Methodology

KCT1 fabric (ridge-tiles)

HHTT2 fabric (ridge-tiles)

KCT3 (floor-tiles)

KCT2 fabric (ridge-tiles)

KCFT2 (floor-tile)

HHFT3 (floor-tiles)

Discussion

5. HIGHHAYS WARE, A PROVENANCE AND DISTRIBUTION STUDY

Niamh Curtin, Cóilín Ó Drisceoil, Michael J. Hughes and Richard Unitt

Introduction and methods, by Niamh Curtin and Cóilín Ó Drisceoil

Chemical characterisation by plasma spectrometry (ICPS) of medieval pottery and clays from Kilkenny and Wexford, by Michael J. Hughes

The petrology of medieval pottery and clays from Kilkenny and Wexford, by Richard Unitt

Interpretation of combined ICPS analysis and petrological analysis results, by Cóilín Ó Drisceoil and Niamh Curtin

Distribution

6. NON-CERAMIC FINDS

Órla Scully, Cóilín Ó Drisceoil, Joe Norton, Jimmy Lenehan and Paul Rondelez

Metal artefacts, by Órla Scully

Small stone objects, by Cóilín Ó Drisceoil

Bone objects, by Cóilín Ó Drisceoil

Clay pipes, by Joe Norton

Coins, by Jimmy Lenehan

Metalworking residues, by Paul Rondelez

7. ARCHAEOBOTANICAL AND CHARCOAL ANALYSIS

Mary Dillon and Ingelise Stuijts

Archaeobotanical remains from Highhays, by Mary Dillon

Methodology

Results

Discussion

Archaeobotanical remains by context

Comparative studies from Kilkenny

Charcoal remains from Highhays, by Ingelise Stuijts

Methodology

Summarised results

Charcoal in specific contexts

Comparative studies

Conclusion

8. HIGHHAYS AND POTTERY PRODUCTION IN MEDIEVAL IRELAND

Cóilín Ó Drisceoil

Bibliography

Appendix 1: Archaeomagnetic dating of the pottery kiln at Highhays, Kilkenny, by Vassil Karloukovski and Mark W. Hounslow

Appendix 2: Radiocarbon dates

Appendix 3: Post-medieval pottery, by Clare McCutcheon

Appendix 4: Post-medieval clay building material, by Joanna Wren

Appendix 5: Animal bone, by Karin Ilseth

Appendix 6: Disarticulated human remains , by Karin Ilseth

List of figures

Fig. 1.1: Highhays, Kilkenny excavation site location.

Fig. 1.2: Highhays, Kilkenny excavation site, aerial view from east.

Fig. 1.3: Highhays excavation site location on reconstruction map of medieval town of Kilkenny c. 1350.

Fig. 1.4: Highhays excavation site and the medieval suburb of St John’s on the east bank of the River Nore.

Fig. 1.5: Highhays excavation site location on reconstruction map of medieval suburb of St John’s c. 1350.

Fig. 1.6: Kilkenny Castle.

Fig. 1.7: Twelfth century round tower and thirteenth century Gothic St Canice’s Cathedral.

Fig. 1.8: The ‘Rothe House’ on Parliament Street, Kilkenny.

Fig. 1.9: A reconstruction plan of the Priory of St John the Evangelist c. 1550.

Fig. 1.10: Fifteenth century tower house which guarded the chief entrance into the precinct of the Magdalen Leper Hospital.

Fig. 1.11: Gate and tower house and precinct of the Magdalen Leper Hospital Kilkenny Castle and City from Wind Gap Hill by Francis Place c. 1699.

Fig. 1.12: Gate and tower house for the Magdalen Leper Hospital as depicted on Thomas Mitchell’s c. 1760 A Panorama of Kilkenny .

Fig. 1.13: Medieval liberties of Kilkenny.

Fig. 1.14: Kilkenny Railway Station c. 1861.

Fig. 1.15: Highhays excavation site on the 1654 Down Survey map of the Liberties of Kilkenny.

Fig. 1.16: The suburb of St John’s and Highhays excavation site as depicted on John Rocque’s 1758 Survey of the Town of Kilkenny .

Fig. 1.17: Highhays excavation site on the Kilkenny City Ordnance Survey 1841 six inches to a mile.

Fig. 1.18: Highhays excavation site on the Kilkenny City Ordnance Survey 1841 scale 1:1056 Town Plan.

Fig. 1.19: Highhays excavation site on the Kilkenny City Ordnance Survey OS 1:1056 sheet 19-47 1871.

Fig. 1.20: Highhays excavation site on the Kilkenny City Ordnance Survey scale 1:2500 sheet 19-7 1902.

Fig. 1.21: Highhays excavation site on the Kilkenny Ordnance Survey map 1:2500 sheet 19-7 1927.

Fig. 1.22: Highhays excavation site on the Kilkenny Ordnance Survey map 1:1250 sheet 19-7d 1946.

Fig. 1.23: Entrance to Kilkenny Railway Station c. 1880 showing much of Area 1 of Highhays excavation.

Fig. 2.1: Plan of the Highhays pottery production centre (Area 1, Period 1) and bakeyard (Area 2, Period 1).

Fig. 2.2: Plan of the Highhays pottery production centre (Area 1, Period 1).

Fig. 2.3: Plan and section of the Highhays pottery kiln.

Fig. 2.4: Highhays pottery kiln with final fuel charge deposits in situ , from north-west.

Fig. 2.5: Highhays pottery kiln firing-chamber with fire-bars in situ from south-east.

Fig. 2.6: Relative quantities of kiln material from Highhays.

Fig. 2.7: Highhays, Kilkenny fire-bars from pottery kiln.

Fig. 2.8: Fire-bars from the Highhays kiln.

Fig. 2.9: Comparative plans of selection of excavated medieval pottery kilns Ireland.

Fig. 2.10: Cutaway reconstruction drawing of Highhays kiln in operation.

Fig. 2.11: Plan of Highhays workshop/pot drying area (Structure A).

Fig. 2.12: Highhays workshop/pot drying area (Structure A) foundations [469] from north-east.

Fig. 2.13: Medieval illustrations of potters’ workshops similar in form to Highhays Structure A.

Fig. 2.14: Plan of Highhays clay store (Structure B).

Fig. 2.15: Section Highhays clay store (Structure B).

Fig. 2.16: Highhays clay store (Structure B) with in situ clay deposits and following their excavation, from south-west.

Fig. 2.17: Highhays workshed (Structure C).

Fig. 2.18: Highhays drying oven [570].

Fig. 2.19: Highhays drying oven [570] from south-west.

Fig. 2.20: Sections cess-pits [527], [543], [559] and screen-slot [525].

Fig. 2.21: Cess-pit [527] from west.

Fig. 2.22–32: Pitting in Area 1.

Fig. 2.33: Rectangular pit [179] from north.

Fig. 2.34: Fuel-stand [194] from north.

Fig. 3.1: Highhays, Area 2, Period 1 plan of drying kiln and bake-oven.

Fig. 3.2: Plan and Section ditch [2098].

Fig. 3.3: Highhays, Area 2, Period 1 plan of drying kiln [2073] and bake-oven [2080].

Fig. 3.4: Drying kiln [2073] and bake-oven [2080] sections.

Fig. 3.5: Excavations underway at Highhays Area 2 February 2006, from east.

Fig. 3.6: South facing section through ditch [2098] from south.

Fig. 3.7: Drying kiln [2073] from east.

Fig. 3.8: Bake-oven [2080] from south.

Fig. 3.9: Area 1 Period 2, Plan of ditches [578], [430] and [586].

Fig. 3.10–12: Area 2 Period 2, gullies.

Fig. 4.1–2: Highhays ware: jugs.

Fig. 4.3: Highhays ware: cooking pots/storage jars.

Fig. 4.4: Highhays ware: money-boxes.

Fig. 4.5: Highhays ware: cylindrical spout.

Fig. 4.6: Highhays ware: jugs, money-boxes, cylindrical spout.

Fig. 4.7: Detail from Highhays Redcliffe Jug 3.

Fig. 4.8: Leinster Cooking Ware cooking/storage jar rims.

Fig. 4.9: Saintonge green-glazed pottery.

Fig. 4.10: Ham Green B body sherds and rim with pair of holes at top of strap handle.

Fig. 4.11: Highhays ware: spouts.

Fig. 4.12: Highhays Redcliffe ware Jug 3 with bridge form spout.

Fig. 4.13: Highhays ware: cylindrical spout.

Fig. 4.14–15: Highhays ware: rims.

Fig. 4.16–21: Highhays ware: handles.

Fig. 4.22–26: Highhays ware: bases.

Fig. 4.27–31: Highhays ware: decorated body sherds.

Fig. 4.32–2: Highhays Creamy ware fabric.

Fig. 4.34–36: Highhays Creamy ware Jugs from Gowran, Co. Kilkenny.

Fig. 4.37: Highhays Creamy ware jug from Castleinch or Inchyolaghan, Co. Kilkenny.

Fig. 4.38–40: Highhays Redcliffe ware fabric.

Fig. 4.41–43: Highhays Redcliffe ware Jugs.

Fig. 4.44: Highhays Redcliffe ware money-boxes.

Fig. 4.45: Highhays Cooking ware fabric.

Fig. 4.46–47: Highhays Cooking ware storage jar/cooking pots.

Fig. 4.48: Highhays Redcliffe coarseware fabric.

Fig. 4.49–50: Highhays Redcliffe coarseware Jug 7.

Fig. 4.51–2: Kilkenny City Tiles.

Fig. 4.53: Highhays Floor-tile 3 (HHFT3).

Fig. 4.54–56: KCT2 fabric.

Fig. 5.1: Map of sites from which pottery and tile were assessed and sampled for inclusion in the provenancing and distribution study.

Fig. 5.2: Locations of clays sampled for comparison with pottery and tile listed on Table 5.1.

Fig. 5.3: Principal Component Analysis of the ICPS results on pottery and clays from Highhays, Kilkenny and pottery and tiles from sites in the adjacent region.

Fig. 5.4: A plot showing which chemical elements contribute (the loadings) to the principal components of Fig. 5.3.

Fig. 5.5: Sub-angular chert fragment to 0.5mm in Sample 12.

Fig. 5.6: Sub-angular, sand-sized (0.3mm) calcareous mudstone associated with sub-angular to sub-rounded quartz, KCT2, Sample 3.

Fig. 5.7: Regular opaque fragments both bladed and circular in Sample 16.

Fig. 5.8: 0.5mm sub-rounded fragment of sandstone in Sample 12.

Fig. 5.9: 1mm fragment of granitic temper, comprising predominantly quartz and muscovite.

Fig. 5.10: Regular, 0.5mm alkali feldspar with small plagioclase feldspar and lath-shaped 0.5mm muscovite, Sample 20.

Fig. 5.11: Angular fragments of fine-grained limestone up to 0.5mm in diameter. Sample 27.

Fig. 5.12: Elongate 0.5mm fragments of fine-grained foliated metamorphic rock from Sample 38.

Fig. 5.13: Close-up image of 0.5mm fragment of fine-grained metamorphic rock in Sample 38.

Fig. 5.14: Clay-rich matrix with relatively minor fine-silt-sized inclusions in Sample 37.

Fig. 5.15: Angular 0.45mm fragment of quartz surrounded by a matrix containing fine silt-sized particles of quartz. Sample 7.

Fig. 5.16: Large (1mm) clouded chert containing small inclusions of calcite. Sample 12.

Fig. 5.17: 0.2mm strained quartz displaying uneven banding in cross-polarized light. Sample 42.

Fig. 5.18: Distribution of Highhays ware confirmed from ICPS and petrographic analysis.

Fig. 5.19: Distribution of Highhays ware Kilkenny City.

Fig. 5.20: Distribution of Highhays ware in south-east Ireland.

Fig. 6.1: Domestic items, metal.

Fig. 6.2: Knives.

Fig. 6.3: Personal items, metal.

Fig. 6.4: Iron objects.

Fig. 6.5: Copper-alloy objects.

Fig. 6.6: Copper-alloy ear-scoop.

Fig. 6.7: Ring-brooches.

Fig. 6.8: Finger-ring.

Fig. 6.9–10: Stone objects.

Fig. 6.11: Bone objects.

Fig. 6.12: Clay pipe bowls.

Fig. 6.13: Coins: Charles I farthing 1625–1644 (106:136) (above) and copper halfpenny, possibly Irish Georgian (1:107) (below).

Fig. 6.14: Distribution and chronology of the metalworking residues at Highhays.

Fig. 6.15: Partial smithing hearth cake, fill of pit [251] (Period 1, c. 1300–1350).

Fig. 6.16–18: Slag.

Fig. 6.19: Vitrified ceramic material adhering to the metalworking residues from Area 1

Fig. 6.20: Fuel inclusions in the metalworking residues from Area 1 Highhays.

Fig. 7.1: Percentage frequency of cereals from Highhays.

Fig. 7.2: A free-threshing wheat grain from Period 1 extraction-pit fill [558] in Area 1.

Fig. 7.3: Oat grain from Period 1 extraction-pit fill [558] in Area 1.

Fig. 7.4: Sloe stone with insect hole from Period 1 cess-pit [542] in Area 1.

Fig. 7.5: Culm node from Period 1 cereal extraction-pit fill [558] in Area 1.

Fig. 7.6: Wood species, frequency.

Fig. 7.7: Wood species, weight.

Fig. 7.8: Wood species, sample score.

Fig. 7.9: Wood species pottery kiln frequency.

Fig. 7.10: Wood species corn drying-kiln frequency.

Fig. 8.1: Reconstruction painting of the Highhays pottery production centre in operation c. AD 1340.

Fig. 8.2: Locations of excavated urban pottery and tile kilns Ireland.

Fig. 8.3: Locations in urban areas of excavated medieval pottery and tile kilns, probable kiln sites.

Fig. 8.4: Thumbings made by Highhays potters on Highhays ware sherds.

Appx 1 Fig. 1: Emma Devine and Philip Kenny obtaining samples of burnt clay from the sides of the Highhays pottery kiln chamber, April 2006.

Appx 1 Fig. 2: Schematic diagram showing archaeomagnetic samples 199–210 along the edge of the pottery kiln.

Appx 1 Fig. 3: Stereoplot of the specimen NRM directions.

Appx 1 Fig. 4: Typical AF-demagnetisation characteristics of specimens from Highhays, Kilkenny.

Appx 1 Fig. 5: Stereoplots of all specimen ChRM directions from Highhays, Kilkenny.

Appx 1 Fig. 6: Comparison between the UK master curve for AD 600–1975 and the converted to Meriden sample-based mean ChRM direction of the pottery kiln at Highhays, Kilkenny.

Appx 2 Figs 1–2: OxCal v.4.4.2 calibration plots.

Appx 3 Figs 1–2: Selection of post-medieval pottery from Highhays.

Appx 5 Fig. 1: Relative abundance of cattle, sheep/goat and pig in the three phases in Area 1.

Appx 5 Fig. 2: Anatomical distribution of cattle for Area 1, periods 1–3.

Appx 5 Fig. 3: Age distribution for cattle in Area 1.

Appx 5 Fig. 4: Anatomical distribution of sheep/goat for Area 1, periods 1–3.

Appx 5 Fig. 5: The age pattern for sheep in Area 1 after epiphyseal fusion data.

Appx 5 Fig. 6: Anatomical distribution of pig for Area 1, phase 1.

Appx 5 Fig. 7: Age pattern for pig in Area 1.

Appx 5 Fig. 8: Relative abundance of cattle, sheep/goat and pig in the three phases in Area 2.

Appx 5 Fig. 9: Anatomical distribution of cattle for Area 2, periods 1–2.

Appx 5 Fig. 10: Age distribution for cattle in Area 2.

Appx 5 Fig. 11: Anatomical distribution of sheep/goat for Area 2, periods 1–2.

Appx 5 Fig. 12: The age pattern for sheep in Area 2 after epiphyseal fusion data.

List of tables

Table 1.1: Trades referred to in the Liber Primus Kilkenniensis .

Table 1.2: Summary archaeological chronology of Highhays.

Table 1.3–4: Selected dating evidence for Periods 1 and 2.

Table 2.1: Finds and archaeobotanical assemblage from the Highhays pottery kiln.

Table 2.2: Dimensions of fire-bars from Highhays.

Table 2.3: Catalogue of pottery production material, by context.

Table 2.4: Classification applied to medieval pottery kilns in Ireland.

Table 2.5: Irish medieval pottery kilns morphology and dating.

Table 2.6–8: Pit-contexts from Area 1, Cuttings 1–3.

Table 2.9: Effects of oxidised and reduced firing atmospheres on pottery.

Table 4.1: Medieval pottery, Highhays.

Table 4.2: Representative samples of Highhays types.

Table 4.3: Highhays pottery associations in secure dated contexts from other excavated sites.

Table 4.4: Chart of floor-tile motifs.

Table 5.1: Sites from which pottery and tile were assessed and sampled for inclusion in the provenancing and distribution study.

Table 5.2: Ceramics selected for fabric macroscan.

Table 5.3: Catalogue of the pottery, tile, daub and clay samples submitted for ICPS and petrographic analysis.

Table 5.4: List of samples analysed.

Table 5.5: Results of petrological analysis, colour coded into assemblages.

Table 5.6: Ceramic samples and combined results of ICPS, petrological assemblages and fabric groups.

Table 5.7: Ceramic samples placed into corresponding groups by both ICPS and petrological analysis.

Table 5.8: Kilkenny Ceramic Group – Castlecomer and Sandfordscourt clays.

Table 5.9: Wexford/Leinster Cooking Ware Ceramics Group.

Table 5.10: Tintern Abbey Ceramics Group.

Table 5.11: Combined ICPS and petrological results for Highhays ceramics from the Highhays production centre.

Table 5.12: Ceramics produced at Highhays and found outside the production site confirmed/suggested from ICPS and/or petrological analysis.

Table 5.13: Summary table of confirmed HIghhays pottery and tiles, ICPS, petrological and fabric groups, clay sources, fabrics.

Table 5.14: Catalogue of sites with identified Highhays ware pottery.

Table 6.1: Catalogue of clay-pipes.

Table 6.2: Metal residues catalogue.

Table 7.1: Plant remains from Highhays.

Table 7.2: Charcoal identifications, frequency, weight.

Table 7.3: Charcoal frequency by context.

Table 7.4: Charcoal weight by context.

Table 8.1: Excavated medieval pottery sites and kilns in Ireland.

Table 8.2: Personal names with possible potter and tiler origins from Kilkenny.

Table 8.3: Placenames and street-names in Kilkenny with possible potter origins.

Appx 1 Table 1: Volume specific magnetic parameters for the Highhays pottery kiln.

Appx 1 Table 2: Mean sample directions and intra-sample scatter, α95, for Highhays, Kilkenny.

Appx A1: Volume-specific NRM intensity, magnetic susceptibility, Koenigsberger ratio and ChRM directional results for the specimens from the pottery kiln.

Appx A2.1: Step-wise AF demagnetisation of specimen 200 A3.

Appx A2.2: Step-wise AF demagnetisation of specimen 205 C3.

Appx A3 Table A3.1: The Clark et al . (1988) master curve with the Fisher k and number of calibration points (N) which contribute to this, using the methods outlines here.

Appx B Table B.1: The main groups of magnetic minerals that are significant in carrying remnant magnetisation and some of their properties.

Appx B Table B.2: Main types of demagnetisation methods and their characteristics.

Appx 2 Table 1: Radiocarbon samples, results and calibrations.

Appx 3 Table 1: Post-medieval pottery.

Appx 5 Table 1: Total number of bone fragments and weight.

Appx 5 Table 2: Distribution of bones in different periods, Area 1.

Appx 5 Table 3: Distribution of species in Periods 1 and 2a, b, and Period 2c Area 1.

Appx 5 Table 4: Distribution of butchering marks, gnaw marks and worked bone for cattle, sheep/goat and pig in Area 1.

Appx 5 Table 5: Sex of cattle in Area 1, according to distal widths of the metacarpal.

Appx 5 Table 6: Pathological changes in cattle bones in Area 1.

Appx 5 Table 7: Distribution of sheep and goat in Area 1.

Appx 5 Table 8: Tooth wear stages and inferred ages for sheep mandibulae from Area 1.

Appx 5 Table 9: Measurements and estimated shoulder heights for sheep in Area 1.

Appx 5 Table 10: Sex distribution for pig, Area 1 (MNI) looking at canines.

Appx 5 Table 11: Distribution of bones in different periods, Area 2.

Appx 5 Table 12: Distribution of species in Periods 1, 2a, b and c, Area 2, showing NISP and MNI.

Appx 5 Table 13: Distribution of butchering marks, gnaw marks and worked bone for cattle, sheep/goat and pig in Area 2.

Appx 5 Table 14: Sex of cattle in Area 2, according to distal widths of the metacarpal.

Appx 5 Table 15: Distribution of sheep and goat in Area 2.

Appx 5 Table 16: Measurements and estimated shoulder heights for sheep in Area 2.

Appx 5 Table 17: Sex distribution for pig, Area 2 (MNI) looking at canines.

Appx 5 Table 18: Tooth wear stages and inferred ages for pig mandibulae from Area 2.

Appx 6 Table 1: Disarticulated human bone.

Authors and contributors

EMMA DEVINE†

Former director of Kilkenny Archaeology.

CÓILÍN Ó DRISCEOIL

Archaeologist, National Monuments Service, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Former director of Kilkenny Archaeology.

MARY DILLON

Archaeobotanist, Galway.

NIAMH CURTIN

Assistant Keeper of Irish Antiquities, National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2.

MARK HOUNSLOW

Centre for Environmental Magnetism and Palaeomagnetism, Geography Department, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster.

MICHAEL J. HUGHES

British Museum

VASSIL KARLOUKOVSKI

Centre for Environmental Magnetism and Palaeomagnetism, Geography Department, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster.

JIMMY LENEHAN

Numismatist, Bleach Road, Kilkenny.

CLARE MCCUTCHEON

Pottery Consultant, Bandon, Co. Cork.

JOE NORTON†

Clay pipes consultant, formerly of the National Monuments Service.

PAUL RONDELEZ

Archaeometallurgy consultant, Department of Archaeology, University College Cork.

ÓRLA SCULLY

Metal finds consultant, Waterford.

INGELISE STUIJTS

Palaeoenvironmental consultant, Kilmanagh, Kilkenny.

KARIN ILSETH

Osteoarchaeological consultant, Borås, Sweden.

RICHARD UNITT

Director, Copper Coast Unesco Geopark, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork

JOANNA WREN

Clay building materials consultant, Mile Post, Slieverue, Co. Kilkenny.

Acknowledgements

The publication of this volume would not have been possible without the generous support, encouragement, expertise and patience, provided by a large number of individuals, institutions and contributors. The Heritage Council and the National Monuments Service, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage generously funded publication of the book. The archaeological excavation at Highhays was undertaken by Kilkenny Archaeology and was financed by MacDonagh Station Developments Ltd. The Irish Research Council provided funding for the pottery provenancing and distribution research (undertaken by Niamh Curtin) under the auspices of the Irish Research Council New Ideas Grant (2012) and the Heritage Council also provided a grant for the associated Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrometry (ICPS) sample production and analysis.

An exceptionally talented and dedicated group of archaeologists, who had at times to work under what were difficult and pressurised circumstances, undertook the excavations for Kilkenny Archaeology at Highhays: Lee Byrne, Michelle Byrne, James Cahill, Michael Comerford, Marc Guernan, Philip Kenny, the late Phelim Manning, Sinead Marshall, Patrick Neary, Elaine O’ Toole, Philip Kavanagh and Mark Slattery. Leah McCullough managed the initial post-excavation programme and Philip Kenny and Patrick McInerney produced the digital illustrations of the site plans. All line drawings are by Philip Kenny, unless otherwise stated and Richard Clutterbuck produced the maps in the volume. The non-ceramic finds illustrations are the work of Alva McGowan and the ceramic illustrations are by Gerry O’Neill. Finds photography is the work of John Sunderland and Philip Armstrong created the reconstruction painting of Highhays that adorns the cover of the book. The conservation of the excavated artefacts was undertaken by Adrian Kennedy and Susannah Kelly. Geophysical survey at St John’s church, opposite the excavation site, was grant-aided by the Irish Heritage Council and carried out by Earthsound Geophysics.

The following heritage professionals, institutions and companies are thanked for permitting access to ceramic samples and archaeological reports for the ceramic provenancing and distribution study: the National Museum of Ireland (Pádraig Clancy, Mary Cahill), the National Monuments Service archives unit, the Discovery Programme (Clare Mullins), Irish Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd, Rubicon Heritage Ltd, Archaeological Development Services Ltd, Eachtra Archaeological Projects, Arch-Tech Ltd, Judith Carroll & Co., Valerie J. Keeley Ltd, Stafford-McLoughlin Archaeology, and Rose Cleary and Colin Rynne (University College Cork). Niall Harper of Grennan Mill Craft School, Errol Delaney of the Castlecomer Discovery Park and Nicholas Mosse of Nicholas Mosse Pottery each kindly shared their knowledge of potting clay sources in the Kilkenny area. Kieran Campbell, Eoin Halpin and Caroline Powell are thanked for allowing access to their reports on the Dundalk and Drogheda pottery production centre. Particular thanks are due to each of the specialist contributors, whose work greatly enriches this volume and who have showed unwavering patience in seeing their work through to publication: Niamh Curtin, Mary Dillon, Mark Hounslow, Michael J. Hughes, Vassil Karloukovski, Jimmy Lenehan, Clare McCutcheon, the late Joe Norton, Paul Rondelez, Órla Scully, Ingelise Stuijts, Karin Ilseth, Richard Unitt and Joanna Wren. Finally, the help, support and encouragement provided by Michael MacDonagh, Chief Archaeologist, the National Monuments Service and Ian Doyle, Head of Conservation, the Heritage Council, is gratefully acknowledged.

Abbreviations

AMS Accelerator mass spectrometry

BP Before present. In terms of radiocarbon dates, BP is defined as AD 1950

CM Minute Books 1656-1843 Kilkenny Corporation (now Kilkenny County Council) archives (the Tholsel, Kilkenny)

CR Corporation Records, Kilkenny Corporation (now Kilkenny County Council) archives ed. Editor, edited by

GIS Geographical Information System

HHTT2 Highhays Tile 2

HHFT3 Highhays Floor-tile 3

ITM Irish Transverse Mercator

KCPM1 Kilkenny City Post-medieval (Tile) 1

KCT1 Kilkenny City Tile 1

KCT2 Kilkenny City Tile 2

KCT3 Kilkenny City Tile 3

KJ Kilkenny Journal newspaper

KM Kilkenny Moderator newspaper

max. Maximum

min. Minimum

MS(S) Manuscript(s)

NMI National Museum of Ireland

O.D. Ordnance Datum

OS Ordnance Survey

RMP Record of Monuments and Places site, protected by the National Monuments Acts 1930-2014.

RSAI Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland

TCD Trinity College Dublin

TT3 Tintern Tile 3

TT4 Tintern Tile 4

UCD University College Dublin

Note on conventions

Artefacts are referenced by their National Museum of Ireland registration number (excavation licence number: context number: find number; e.g. 06E0122:545:18), with the excavation licence number omitted to avoid repetition. Archaeological context numbers cited are the same as those used in the archaeological excavation and are denoted in square brackets, i.e. [1234].

Archaeological excavation archive

All archaeological artefacts excavated at Highhays, Kilkenny are accessioned by the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin under registration number 06E0625. The paper and digital archive is in the possession of the National Monuments Service archive unit. Stratigraphic and finds registers are available online at the Archaeology Data Service: https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/.

Foreword

by Minister Malcolm Noonan, Minister of State for Heritage, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I am truly honoured to have been asked to write this preface to this important and welcome publication – as Minister with responsibility for heritage, as a public representative for Kilkenny, and as a friend of the authors. It has of course brought sadness at the recollection of the untimely passing of Emma Devine and that Emma is not here to see the fine archaeological work she led at Highhays brought to fruition, along with her partner in life and in archaeology Cóilín Ó Drisceoil.

When I was Mayor of Kilkenny, I had the privilege of opening a new exhibition of artefacts in Rothe House in Kilkenny curated and designed by Emma. What sticks with me from the night was the incredible sense of pride in her work, her attention to detail, her deep knowledge and understanding of the wider importance of caring for our past and for weaving stories around simple objects to ignite the imagination. We had many conversations on the need to save and conserve our built and archaeological heritage. Emma always spoke with passion and with a wonderful smile which was never far away.

The central role of Kilkenny, city and county, in the story of medieval Ireland is of course well known to all with even a passing interest in Irish history. To my mind, however, what makes Kilkenny so special in the present is not just that rich history but its visibility in the heritage of the city and county, in their wonderful medieval monuments and historic town centres. This tangible, above ground historic heritage truly gives all of Kilkenny its present sense of place, so vital in the well-being of contemporary communities. At Highhays in 2006, development provided an opportunity to investigate life outside the medieval city walls. Those archaeological excavations led by Emma and Cóilín, provide the first comprehensive archaeological and scientific study of pottery production in Anglo-Norman Ireland and are an important contribution to our understanding of the medieval archaeology of Kilkenny and South-East Ireland.

As the need to address the archaeological implications of development became better recognised and more fully addressed over the last thirty years, multiple archaeological investigations in advance of development have allowed that heritage and sense of place to be greatly enriched. One of the challenges in managing our archaeological heritage is that the importance of the wealth of information about the past surviving below ground, and the results coming from its scientific investigation, are not as easily appreciated by the non-specialist as that of the above ground monuments. That they are just as important is, however, ably demonstrated by dedicated expert work and high quality publication, as with the present book. This work opens to us a new understanding of the surroundings of the medieval city of Kilkenny and the nature of its economy; a view of a previously unknown medieval suburb and a major medieval centre for the production of pottery. We now have not just the ability to enjoy a range of surviving medieval monuments in the towns and countryside of Kilkenny and to walk in historic town centres originating in medieval times, but also the opportunity to better understand the historical context of those monuments and what life was like for those who built and used them.

Reconciling the needs of archaeology and development is a complex process, with multiple actors; the National Monuments Service of my own Department and local authorities in their advisory and regulatory roles, the developers who engage with the process and bear the costs of the resulting archaeological work, the professional archaeologists who expertly carry