2007:106 - AR156, Demense/Ballynolan, Carlow

This site was located within the N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford road scheme along Contract 2, Phase 4B, Knocktopher to Powerstown, and formed part of one large prehistoric settlement along with AR155 (A032/119, above No. 105). Combined, AR156 and AR155 measured 190m by 140m (north–south). A meandering, curvilinear, shallow ditch/gully feature with an internal diameter of 170m by 130m was excavated. A range of Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age material was recorded, likely to date specifically to the Beaker period (2500–2300 bc). Domestic activity was recorded in the form of a rectangular structure and pits containing domestic tools and prehistoric pottery. Industrial activity was recorded in the form of ‘furnace type’ features and pits containing slag, charcoal and heat-shattered stones with associated stake- and post-holes; also, possible ritual activity was recorded in the form of ‘mini-ring-ditches’ and charcoal-rich pits with a low frequency of burnt bone. A large quantity of stone tools, chert and flint, arrowheads, scrapers, whetstones and rubbing stones were recorded within secure contexts.