County: Wicklow Site name: Ballyvaltron
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A022/052, E3238
Author: Goorik Dehaene, Coolroe, Tinahely, Co. Wicklow, for Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd.
Site type: Burnt mound/fulacht fiadh
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 727558m, N 685722m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.907196, -6.103666
The site, a burnt-mound/fulacht fiadh site, was in Ballyvaltron, c. 8km south-west of Wicklow town. The archaeological investigation was undertaken in May to June 2006 on behalf of the National Roads Authority on the route of the N11 Rathnew to Arklow road improvement. The site, which was located at the base of a west-facing slope, is c. 250m north-west of WI036–005, a church.
The site measured 25m (north–south) by 20m and comprised a burnt spread, a trough and a pit. The burnt spread measured 13.4m (north–south) by 5.5m and extended to the east beyond the limits of the excavation. The trough comprised an irregular cut (1.7m north–south by 1.4m by 0.42m) with a single fill.
The pit comprised a large irregular cut (5.5m north–south) that extended beyond the eastern limit of the excavation. This pit had five burnt-spread material fills. Rising water in the base of this pit indicates that it may have been created to utilise a spring. The drain comprised a north–south-aligned linear feature that cut the burnt mound.
A single struck flint was recovered from this site, which is adjacent to E3239 (see No. 2163 below).
