2007:430 - Ballynakelly/Newcastle, Dublin

Archaeological works were undertaken in advance of the first stage of an extensive residential and mixed-use development. A test excavation was also conducted in order to establish the veracity of the results of geophysical survey on the development lands.
An eight-year planning permission has been sought for a 20.24ha area which crosses the zone of archaeological potential surrounding the historic town of Newcastle-Lyons (DU020–003/021–017). In particular, the proposed development will occur in an area that has a number of burgage-type property plots and their standing and relict field boundaries.
Prior to this phase of work, the results of geophysical survey (Licence 04R130) had already identified a series of potential archaeological features in the form of linear anomalies. The trench layout for the test excavation was based primarily on establishing the veracity of these anomalies, in addition to defining the extent of archaeological activity and establishing the nature, origin and archaeological potential of the relict field boundaries and ditches.
A total of 20 trenches were positioned to gather maximum information with minimal impact. An additional two continuous centre-line trenches were put in along the full extent of two proposed haul roads that would eventually form the main spine road into the development. The results of the test excavation and excavation confirmed the presence of a number of features of archaeological significance; however, there was no definitive evidence for any boundaries having a medieval date. Monitoring of topsoil-stripping for the creation of a new spine road into the development area gave rise to the discovery of several archaeological features, the most well preserved of which was a Middle Bronze Age enclosure and an early medieval corn-drying kiln.
Middle Bronze Age enclosure
A circular enclosure was located c. 100m south of the main road (R120), in the westernmost portion of Field 4. Approximately 60% of the entire ditch was excavated, as the remaining 40% of the site was located to the west in an adjacent field that was not part of the development. The local topography suggests that the remaining 40% of the feature had also been heavily truncated by the field boundary dividing the two fields.
The enclosure was circular in plan and the site had a maximum diameter of 21.4m (measured from north to south, including the ditches). The entrance was located in the south-east quadrant of the enclosure. There was an opening defined by the terminals of the ditches that measured 1.75m wide. The eastern two-thirds of the enclosure were excavated, with the remaining third located beyond a post-medieval field boundary that cuts through the site. The field boundary is orientated north-north-east/south-south-west. The enclosure ditch measured 1.44m wide and survived to between 0.38m and 0.18m deep. The ditch had gradually sloping sides and a rounded base.
The ditch contained two distinctively different fills. The upper fill consisted of a sandy clay with frequent inclusions of charcoal, coarse pottery and animal bone. The animal bone and pottery located within the ditch was mainly to be found in the interface between the upper fill and the lower deposit.
Further investigation and test excavation is required on the Phase 2 lands and monitoring of continuing enabling works and earthmoving on the development lands will be required as the development continues.
Cereal-drying kiln
A cereal-drying kiln was exposed during topsoil-stripping in the eastern section of the site. It was located c. 150m south-west of the eastern entrance from the main Newcastle road, when a wider area around the main haul road was opened to facilitate site drainage. The drying kiln was discovered c. 60m south-west of the early medieval settlement site excavated by Ciara McCarthy for Arch-Tech (Excavations 2006, No. 564, 06E0176). It is likely that this kiln is contemporary with the enclosure site.
The kiln was defined by two pits linked by a curvilinear flue. The eastern pit corresponded to the hearth site of the kiln, while the western pit was the drying floor. The composite structure had a total length of 6.8m.