2007:874 - Ballyhale, Kilkenny

Testing was undertaken on the site of a proposed housing scheme in Ballyhale village. The on-site investigations were undertaken further to the results of a geophysical survey and due to the presence of a souterrain being recorded in the northern part of the site. Fourteen test-trenches were opened, with the majority in the northern portion of the site. These trenches yielded fifteen features, with two located in more than one trench.
The topsoil directly overlay the natural in every trench, with, as to be expected, a deeper topsoil at the base of the natural slope than the top. However, considering the above evidence pertaining to human activity upon this site, it was disconcerting to have so little material confirmation during testing. There was almost a total lack of pottery, with two sherds of creamware found in one trench and one piece of blue and white in another trench – one of the few trenches not to contain a feature. Furthermore, there was a distinct lack of evidence regarding previous structures – no mortar, slate, brick or glass. This proved perplexing considering the first-edition OS map portrays a series of buildings and boundaries throughout this area. Regarding confirmed agricultural activity, the only furrows positively identified were those cut through the fulacht fiadh in two of the trenches. Although a series of cut features was recorded in another trench, both testing and geophysical results suggest that, due to their location within the landscape, they are far too rectilinear to be agricultural, although it is possible they are horticultural and associated with domestic 19th-century activity. However, if this were the case, a far greater spread of broken pottery would have been expected.
In the western part of the site, it was evident that testing revealed a number of varying features in a relatively small area – two of which were of substantial proportions. It should be noted that that one of the features in Trench 2 was distinctly ‘L’-shaped, extending westwards across the trench. If this feature should extend beneath the western field boundary, it must be earlier than the boundary construction and of potential antiquity. A subcircular feature extending beneath the western baulk was considered a potential pit. It is possible some of the features within this area may be the result of tree root action.
By far the easiest interpretation from this testing programme is that of the feature revealed in two of the trenches, which is without doubt a plough-damaged fulacht fiadh.
Two subterranean features were discovered in Trench 8, which was cut within the recorded vicinity of the souterrain. These features were particularly well made, comprising boulder and stone drystone walls topped with flatter, well-laid capstones. This building technique is definitely of the style associated with souterrain construction. However, the dimension of these features should be re-emphasised – one measured 0.6m wide by 0.6m high, whilst the other was 605mm wide by 0.6m high. Even when taking into account the overall slimmer attributes of the human form in the first millennium, it should be accepted these apertures would have proved extremely small and claustrophobic, especially when considering their potential length. Based on the above facts, the question must therefore be asked that if they are too small to be souterrain passageways are they part of an elaborate watercourse associated with the 19th-century mill? Firstly the subterranean features were relatively deeply located – 1.8m below the present ground surface – although it is known a number of hollows within this vicinity have been infilled during the latter years of the last century. Secondly there was absolutely no presence of any silt within the passages, or water staining on the side boulders. It is possible these passages have been infilled to a level above the original water line, but this is considered highly doubtful.
It is therefore still possible that one of the interpretations proposed in the original AIS will still be appropriate, being that the mill complex was constructed during the 19th century in the northern part of this large field. Whilst digging the watercourse a souterrain was encountered; this was then partially incorporated and remodelled into the race.