2004:0865 - BALLYMOUNTAIN, Kilkenny

Waterford City Council proposes to construct an 18km bypass around Waterford city, with associated link roads. The route forms part of the N25 and runs from Kilmeaden in Co. Waterford to Slieverue in Co. Kilkenny. Work was undertaken at Site 7 in the townland of Ballymountain, Co. Kilkenny, as part of pre-construction archaeological investigations of the N25 Waterford bypass, Contract 3. On this site, testing by Dave Pollock identified a fulacht fiadh (Excavations 2003, No. 1032, 02E0196). Full resolution was carried out in April 2004. The National Roads Authority through Waterford City Council administered the total archaeological cost.

Following topsoil-stripping of an area measuring 1459m2, a fulacht fiadh with associated features (two pits, one post-hole, four troughs and four stake-holes) was identified. A field boundary marginally cut the western edge of the mound. The maximum area covered by the fulacht fiadh was 20m by 20m. The maximum depth of the heat-shattered stone and charcoal (mound deposit) was 0.83m. Underlying the layers of heat-shattered stone and charcoal were two troughs. One of these was 2.88m north-south and 1.05m wide; it reached a depth of 0.3m. The sides were vertical and the base flat. Four stake-holes were excavated at the south-east end of the trough. Two large rectangular stones placed at ground level marked the two ends of the trough, with a third stone pressed flat against the northern side. Very small fragments of unburnt wood were evident at the base and sides. A second trough was identified c. 2m north-west of the rectangular trough. This was an irregular oval in plan and measured 1.85m long (east-west), 0.9m wide and 0.44m deep.

A second rectangular trough was identified on the periphery of the mound. This trough measured 1.83m long (north-south), 1.02m wide and was 0.6m deep. The sides were vertical to a flat bedrock base. The fourth trough was located in the south-east corner of the trench. It was oval in plan, with almost vertical sides and a flat base. Small fragments of unburnt wood were evident at the base.

Two pits were situated on the periphery of the fulacht fiadh. One was oval in plan and very shallow. The second was circular with a diameter of c. 0.95m and was 0.25m deep. In the south-west quadrant a small possible post-hole was identified directly below the mound of heat-shattered stone and charcoal. It was roughly circular in plan with vertical sides and an almost flat base. Three flint pieces, two corroded metal fragments and one piece of rhyolite were found during the course of excavation.