2022:869 - CHARLEVILLE: Ballysallagh Business Park (Eastern area), Railway Road, Ballysallagh, Cork

An Archaeological Impact Assessment, including desk-based research, a geophysical survey (22R0027) and test trenching, was undertaken at the site of a proposed industrial development at the northern end of the Ballysallagh Business Park in the townland of Ballysallagh, approximately 1.6km south-east of Charleville town centre. The site comprised essentially level pasture fields. The geophysical survey identified nothing of archaeological potential.

As the site was to be developed in two phases, thirteen test trenches were excavated across the eastern portion of the site in 2022. Trenching revealed a probable charcoal-production pit at the south-eastern corner of the site. The identified feature measures was essentially a rectangular deposit of charcoal-rich soil measuring 3.1m by 1.1m, surrounded by a ‘halo’ of heat-reddened clay indicative of in-situ burning. Monitoring and excavation of the area was subsequently carried out under a separate licence (23E0087).