County: Wicklow Site name: BALLYNAMUDDAGH, Bray
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 00E0691
Author: Mary B. Deevy and Sinclair Turrell, ADS Ltd.
Site type: Prehistoric site - lithic scatter, Ring-ditch, Pit, Structure and Cremation pit
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 727623m, N 716530m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.183905, -6.090503
The site was in Ballynamuddagh townland, on the western face of Bray Head, Co. Wicklow. It was a previously unknown site identified during systematic field-walking as part of an archaeological site assessment before the development of an 18-hole golf-course (see Excavations 2000, No. 1079). It initially appeared as a high concentration of lithic material scattered on the surface of the ploughsoil and what was believed to be a possible burnt spread. These sites occurred within an area that was due to be disturbed in the construction of one of the fairways. It was proposed to hand-excavate test-pits in order to define the extent, character and condition of any archaeological remains within or beneath the ploughsoil before mechanical removal of the soil. Twenty-eight 1m2 test-pits were excavated from 27 September to 6 October 2000. Further lithic material was recovered from the ploughsoil, and a number of archaeological features were uncovered below it. As the topsoil was discovered to be very deep in places, and because of the archaeological features uncovered beneath it, it was decided to abandon the hand-excavation of test-pits in favour of mechanical topsoil-stripping. During the subsequent archaeological monitoring of topsoil-stripping, extensive archaeological features were uncovered. These were cleaned and sectioned in order to clarify their extent and nature. Monitoring and test excavation of the uncovered features was carried out over five weeks, from 9 October to 17 November. They were revealed as a ring-ditch, a possible building/structure, a number of possible cremation pits and various miscellaneous pits.
The ring-ditch
The ring-ditch measured 5m in external diameter with a maximum width of 0.78m and depth of 0.4m. The earliest and principal fill of the ditch was a brown-grey, silty clay with frequent stones and only occasional charcoal flecks. A thin deposit of black, very charcoal-rich, silty clay with frequent small fragments of burnt bone overlay this. The central area inside the ring-ditch, which was not excavated, was slightly domed in profile. Five small pits (one of which was just off centre) visible within this area were probably funerary pits.
Possible building/structure
A series of deposits was uncovered 4m to the north-east of the ring-ditch. These deposits formed a discontinuous ring c. 11m in diameter. Within this ring were further features forming a subrectangular shape. A section through the ring revealed a ditch 1.3m wide and 0.5m deep, which appeared to have been recut at least once. Another section revealed a possible post-hole in its base. Small amounts of burnt bone were found within the fill of these ditches.
Possible cremation pits
Four small pits with charcoal-rich fill, containing fragments of burnt bone, were excavated. The burnt bone has yet to be examined by a palaeopathologist, but it is expected that they will prove to be human cremations.
Discussion
No diagnostic artefacts were recovered from any of these features, and they are not stratigraphically related; however, most appear to be cut from the same level and are therefore likely to be broadly contemporary. 14C dating of charcoal samples from many of these features should clarify their chronological relationship. The topsoil had been stripped in this area so that it could be built up (rather than reduced), after which the topsoil would be replaced. As it was not intended to reduce the ground level further, it was agreed, in consultation with Dúchas, to preserve the site in situ, having recorded it in plan and to a limited extent in section.
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