County: Kildare Site name: Belan
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: E002953
Author: Red Tobin, Headland Archaeology Ltd, Wallingstown Business Park, Little Island, Cork.
Site type: Burnt mound
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 676837m, N 689835m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.953791, -6.856515
This site was excavated as part of the N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford scheme, Phase 3: Kilcullen to Carlow. Excavation on this site commenced on 5 August 2007. Topsoil-stripping revealed a spread of burnt-mound material (burnt, heat-shattered stones and fire-blackened earth). The topsoil-strip revealed two human tibiae to the east of the burnt spread. Their location would suggest that they may have originated elsewhere and were dragged to this position through agricultural activity.
The burnt spread was amorphous in plan with a long axis orientation from north to south. The spread was 7m in length and 6m in width, reaching a maximum depth of 0.15m in a natural depression. This site, while bearing similarities to a burnt mound, can only be termed a burnt spread, as the depth of material, in general, is never more than 0.02–0.05m.
The burnt spread was situated on a deposit of decayed organic material, which in turn rested on the grey alluvial clay. The decayed organic material is likely to be the remains of a tussock of grassland that developed within the flood-plain of the stream. This piece of well-drained land provided a perfect base for the development of the burnt spread. Its use period was quite short and clearly seasonal, as it is likely the area is liable to flooding.
A possible trough was identified within the spread on its eastern edge. The possible trough measured 1.54m in length and 1.15m in width and survived to a maximum depth of 0.37m. Some timbers were recovered from the base of this trough. The timbers were badly decayed but did not display any visible signs of working. Post-excavation work may reveal more information about the timbers. A human skull fragment was retrieved from the uppermost fill of this trough. This fragment was impacted into this fill and may not be contemporary with the use period.
Two artefacts were recovered during the excavation. A fine retouched scraper was recovered from the burnt spread. The scraper was retouched on two faces and shows evidence of direct burning. The second artefact is a chert hollow scraper. This scraper was recovered at the interface of the burnt spread with the decayed organic layer. It displays no evidence for retouching. Both scrapers are particularly fine in form, displaying a narrow profile more reminiscent of Neolithic flint working than Bronze Age. The identification of Beaker artefacts to the south of this site may suggest a late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age date for this burnt spread.
