County: Kilkenny Site name: BALLYTARSNA
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 21:8, 21:6 Licence number: 00E0155
Author: Matthew Seaver
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 657116m, N 630499m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.423002, -7.160256
The site is on a low hill overlooking the valley of the River Barrow. It lies directly to the north of a large bivallate ringfort (SMR 21:8) on the crest of the hill, with extensive views to the south, east and west. The interior of the fort is raised. It is known locally as ‘Bucky’s Rath’. The site is in Dúninga townland, which evidently refers to this monument. At an unspecified date in the 19th century, a number of stone-lined cists were discovered 2ft under the surface. To the north of the fort and running east–west throughout the townland is a linear bank known as Raduffe’s Trench (SMR 21:6). It forms the southern boundary of the site under investigation. It subsequently crosses the road and runs southwards towards Dúninga House. This ditch forms the boundary between Kilkenny and Carlow and between the baronies of Gowran and Idrone (SMR files). The site in question consists of a long, narrow strip running back from the Bagnelstown– Goresbridge road. It has been the back garden of the house fronting the road for forty years.
Six trenches were excavated. All were machine-dug apart from the trench abutting the southern edge of the site. In addition, before arrival on site, a test-hole had been sunk for the percolation area of the septic tank, located to the south of Trench 6. This test-hole revealed no deposits of archaeological significance. Excavations were carried out using a JCB with a toothless bucket.
The five machine-dug trenches revealed topsoil ranging from 0.1m to 0.14m deep. They ranged from 4m to 5m in length and were 2m wide. They were all dug to natural deposits, which occurred at between 51.52m and 54.01m OD. These were a mixture of grey sand and gravel and yellow boulder clay.
No deposits or objects of archaeological significance were recovered during the assessment. No traces of a ditch or bank were found within the field to the north of the field boundary. Any construction work should avoid the field bank on the southern boundary of the site. It is proposed to erect wooden fencing alongside the bank following construction.
Upper Outrath, Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny
