2007:758 - Ballyvass, Kildare

This site was excavated as part of the N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford scheme, Phase 3: Kilcullen to Carlow. Field systems and cultivation ridges were identified during geophysical survey carried on over a number of areas (Bartlett 2002). Centreline trenching by CRDS in 2006 revealed evidence of a Bronze Age round house. The testing showed that the field system respected the position of this structure and this was used to suggest that the house and field system were contemporary.
Excavation on this site has proven that this interpretation is inaccurate. No evidence was uncovered to support the presence of a prehistoric structure. During topsoil-stripping many other features were exposed. These features included two large cereal-drying kilns and a series of post-holes, stake-holes and pits. These features were all cut into natural and displayed similar fills. Preliminary examination of samples from some of these features offered nothing by way of evidence to interpret or associate the features. There was also no stratigraphic evidence that could be used to separate out the features to suggest a phasing for this site. There was also a total absence of artefacts from this site. The morphology of the kilns would suggest an early medieval date for the activity on this site, probably between the 6th and 8th century.
The linear features that geophysical survey suggests as field systems must be viewed separately. Two very definite linear anomalies cross the site from east to west. During excavation these linear features appeared as well-defined cuts with a variety of fills. These fills do not reflect complexities in stratigraphy, rather periods during which the features silted up and were recut. The nature of these features would suggest a primary function other than enclosure. These features are parallel and may define a track/road with drainage ditches flanking on either side.
The other linear anomalies are very shallow with a single fill and define field systems. These linear features are generally aligned north to south and are stratigraphically later than the east–west linear features/drains, cutting into their final fill. Within these field systems are linear furrows, running parallel to the line of the actual field boundaries. The spacing between these furrows is representative of lazy-beds, potentially dating to the medieval or post-medieval activity on this site. Post-excavation analysis of soil samples from the various cut features may help to further resolve the stratigraphic nature of this site and provide a time line for these events.