County: Carlow Site name: Ballybannon
Sites and Monuments Record No.: - Licence number: E002617
Author: Áine Richardson, Headland Archaeology Ltd, Unit 1, Wallingstown Business Park, Little Island, Cork.
Site type: Pits, burnt-mound material
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 672020m, N 670926m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.784542, -6.932368
The site was excavated as part of the N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford scheme: Kilcullen to Powerstown. Testing carried out under Ministerial Direction number A021/059 on this site in 2005 (Excavations 2005, No. 60) revealed burnt-mound material in small pits and spreads and a large east–west-orientated double ditch, the northern section possibly having been enlarged or cleaned out in recent times. The feature may be of importance due to its proximity to the moated enclosure CW012–011, as it may have provided or channelled the water source for the moat.
A stream flows north-west/south-east along the north edge of the site. This stream has been artificially managed in modern times to maximise land usage and provide more efficient drainage. The River Barrow is located just over 2km to the west. The site lay on flat ground, at 60m OD, and was surrounded by farmland on all sides. Approximately 40m to the north-west is a moated enclosure (CW012–011), for which the stream acts as a natural boundary. Approximately 150m to the south is a possible motte and bailey site (CW012–012).
A series of eight small cooking sites, filled with pebbles and medium-sized stones, were excavated towards the north-east end of the site. One cooking site produced occasional flecks of charcoal and fragments of animal bone. Five pits were also excavated in the north-east part of the site. No artefacts were recovered.
