2006:2156 - BALLYNAPARK, Wicklow

This site comprised burnt-spread/fulacht fiadh activity in Ballynapark, c. 10km north-east of Arklow town in Co. Wicklow. The archaeological investigation was undertaken in June and July 2006 on behalf of the National Roads Authority on the route of the N11 Rathnew to Arklow road improvement scheme.

The site was located in a flat low-lying field c. 450m south of WI036–016, an enclosure. The site is also c. 550m south-east of two areas of archaeological potential recognised in the EIS for the project as the remnants of possible enclosures. Both were identified through aerial photographic analysis.

During topsoil-stripping a ladle was recovered. This artefact has been provisionally dated to the early medieval period. A metal-detecting survey of the topsoil was subsequently conducted on the site by John Maas, who recovered a portion of a socketed bronze axe. The type has been provisionally identified as Bronze Age in date.

The site comprised several burnt spreads, troughs and pits. The excavation comprised two areas, Areas A and B, within an overall area measuring 140m east–west by 60m. Area A was to the east of Area B and was 50m (east–west) by 40m. Area B was 70m (east–west) by 60m.

The natural subsoil undulated across the site, which generally sloped downwards from the south-west and south-east to the north-west. The features recorded on this site were located on four slightly raised areas located to the west of Area A, and the south, west and north-west of Area B.

Features identified in the west of Area A include a burnt spread and two troughs.

The burnt spread was 6m (north–south) by 5m and lay over two troughs. The first trough comprised a subcircular cut (2.2m north–south by 1.54m by 0.5m) with a single fill. The second trough comprised an oval cut (2.5m east–west by 1.7m by 0.7m) with a single fill.

Features identified in the south of Area B include a burnt spread, two troughs and pits. The burnt spread was a large irregular oval mound, 24m (east–west) by 15m, with a maximum depth of 0.4m. A layer at the base of this spread produced 484 flint finds, including flakes, debitage and worked pieces. The burnt spread overlay six pits and two troughs. The first pit was a shallow flat-bottomed irregular cut 2.5m east–west by 2m. It contained a single fill from which 440 chipped flints were recovered. This pit and the burnt spread in the area immediately around it produced hundreds more fragments of flint. The second pit comprised a subcircular cut (1.22m by 1.08m) with sloped sides and a flat base, containing two fills. The third pit comprised a large, deep oval pit cut (2.6m east–west by 1.65m by 0.7m) with steep sides and a rounded base. This pit contained nine fills. The fourth pit comprised an oval cut with a single charcoal-rich fill.

In the centre of this portion of the site, under the burnt spread, were two pits and a paved area between the pits. Stake-holes were associated with the pits. The layer of stone paving comprised an area measuring 1.5m by 1.2m of flat stones of various sizes laid edge to edge to create a flat area. The first trough comprised a large (2.2m by 2.02m) oval cut aligned south-east/north-west. A post-hole was identified in the south-east of the trough. The second trough in this area comprised a shallow rectangular flat-bottomed cut (1.8m east–west by 1.15m). A post-hole was recorded in each of the corners of this trough.

Features identified at the west of Area B included a burnt spread, two pits and a trough. The burnt spread comprised two spreads of burnt charcoal-rich soil containing burnt and heat-fractured stones. The spreads were irregular and sub-oval in plan and measured c. 20m (north–south) by c. 10m. Two pits and a possible trough were recorded under the burnt spread. The first pit comprised a large (3m by 2.6m by 0.57m) irregular sub-oval cut with five fills. A large unburnt stone was identified in the base of this trough. The second pit comprised a sub-oval cut with one burnt spread material fill. A stake-hole was recorded in the base of the pit. The trough comprised a sub-oval cut (3.1m by 2.45m by 0.48m) with an uneven base. The east of this trough was truncated by machine.

Features identified in the north-west of Area B include a burnt spread and two pits. The burnt spread comprised a sub-oval (13m north–south by 7m) deposit containing four layers of burnt spread material. The first pit comprised a circular (diameter c. 1.12m by 0.5m) steep-sided cut with a flat base containing six fills. The second pit comprised a regular cut (2m by 1.3m by 0.62m) with a flat base and contained six fills. Fragments of wood were identified within the lower fills of this pit.

Coolroe, Tinahely, Co. Wicklow