2002:0078 - BALLYCASEY MORE, Clare

Monitoring of topsoil-stripping within an archaeological complex was carried out in response to a planning condition for a residential development. Part of the site had been assessed by Paul Stevens (Excavations 1998, No. 24, 98E0517). Twelve trenches were excavated to determine the nature of the earthworks in this area. The earthworks were interpreted as being post-medieval in origin and included field banks, field systems, a roadway and a possible house. Monitoring began in May 2002 and continued over a number of months. A large number of archaeological features were exposed within the three phases of the development.

Three linear features were exposed in Phase I, one of which was a post-medieval field boundary.

Phase II contained the largest number of archaeological features and was the largest of the phases. Three concentrations of archaeological activity were noted. These included an early medieval ditched enclosure, two adjoined rectangular stone-and-earthen-bank enclosures and the remains of three to four human burials from a disturbed context. A series of associated linear features, pits, post-holes, stone alignments and spreads was exposed within and in the vicinity of the enclosure. The two adjoined rectangular stone-and-earthen-bank enclosures were exposed toward the northern extent of this phase. A straight earth-and-stone bank also ran south-eastward away from the enclosures. Numerous spreads, pits and linear features were exposed in these two enclosures and in an area to the north-west of the enclosures. Topsoil-stripping in the south-eastern extent of this phase exposed two grave-cuts and the remains of a third. This area was badly disturbed by quarrying in the 1960s, and it had been intensively farmed during the 20th century. It is therefore possible that there were originally more burials in this area. Fragments of a human skull were retrieved from the quarried area, which may be part of the third burial or remnants of a fourth. Two field boundaries were also exposed in this phase, oriented north-east/south-west and east–west.

The third phase of the development was to the south and south-east of Phase II. Archaeological features were exposed in three areas. A number of pits were revealed toward the southern extent of the phase, and pits and spreads containing cremated bone were exposed at the north-western extent. These may relate to the early medieval enclosure beside them. They are separated from the enclosure by a roadway built decades ago, which destroyed the southern extent of the enclosure. An east–west-oriented field boundary ran just south of the cremation pits for a distance of 46m. A concentration of pits and post-holes was exposed toward the eastern extent of the site. Again, quarrying to the west of these may have destroyed further archaeological remains. Archaeological resolution of this site was carried out under licence 02E1045 (see No. 79, Excavations 2002) from July to November 2002.

Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth