Remnants of forgotten community unearthed in Kilkenny

Archaeological research in Kilkenny seems to have unearthed the remnants of a forgotten community and even an ancient sauna, archaeologists believe.

There are currently three separate digs taking place on the outskirts of Kilkenny City.

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Two burial mounds were found on the dig opposite the old Met station but no human remains.

Pieces of broken clay pottery were found in these mounds though, suggesting the ashes of the dead were buried there.

On the other two sites, work has been delayed by the very heavy rain which fell over the past few weeks.

On one of these sites five 'fulacht fiaigh' (hunting or cooking kitchen) were discovered, suggesting some community lived here estimated to be around 2000 BC.

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On the third site they made a great discovery which they initially thought was a lime kiln but on further digging an amazing sweat house was revealed.

This revelation served the purpose of the modern sauna at that time.

At the bottom of the large stones fires were used to heat them and when very hot water was splashed on the stones to create the steam effect.

All this area would have been originally covered by a wooden structure to retain the heat and steam.

The locations for the supports of this structure were also discovered.