2007:2004 - Boystown or Baltyboys Upper, Wicklow

The Neolithic house was first identified by the writer in February 2006 while walking the shoreline of the Poulaphuca Reservoir. The reservoir was created in 1940, and resulted in the flooding of some 5000 acres of former agricultural land and bogland. The location where the Neolithic house was discovered, at OD 184m, was formerly agricultural land on a gentle slope overlooking the King’s River.
When first identified, the site was evident as a rectangular outline, where the slot-trench forming the outline was presented in relief. This was due to the differential erosion of the surrounding clays and the fill of the slot-trench, which consisted of compacted burnt clay and charcoal. Internally, there were three areas of compacted charcoal which were also presented in relief above the surrounding clay. On this occasion a flint scraper and a flint blade were found on the surface, which supported the suggestion that this was a Neolithic house. Also on that occasion a flint core was found on the surface some 5m east of the house. However, following a night of very heavy rain the structure became inundated with water and prevented any further investigation on that occasion. Indeed, such was the waterlogging it was decided not to plan the site on that occasion for fear of damaging the visible features.
The site remained submerged until the weekend of 10 November 2007. Following a prolonged drought during October and early November the reservoir level had dropped dramatically, thereby revealing the Neolithic house again. Given the forecast of imminent rain it was decided to inspect the site, with a view to planning the features visible. When completed, it was decided to carry out a small-scale excavation of a number of the features. This consisted of the excavation of a small cutting across the eastern section of the presumed slot-trench (F1) of the house, and the half-sectioning of one of the internal features, which had the appearance of a hearth or pit (F2).
While not directly associated with the house described below, a granite saddle quern was found some 30m west-south-west of the house. This was simply found on the surface of the shoreline of the reservoir and, given its proximity to the house, it is tempting to suggest that it is contemporary.
House structure
F1 consists of the slot-trench defining the perimeter of a rectangular-shaped house measuring 6.6m north–south by 6.2m internally. At the north-west, north, east and south-east the slot-trench presented itself as a raised ridge, 0.2–0.5m wide and standing some 0.05m high. This appears to be a result of differential erosion of the surrounding sandy clay and the compacted soils within the slot-trench. At the surface the soils forming the ridge (i.e. the fill of the slot-trench) showed up as a clear area of burning, with charcoal-rich soils as well as burnt red clay in places. A small cutting was excavated along the southern portion of the eastern wall. The cutting revealed a U-shaped slot-trench (0.3m wide and 0.1m deep). The fill consisted of grey/black charcoal-rich soil with some light-brown clay. A number of finds of flint and Early Neolithic pottery were found within the cutting across the slot-trench and elsewhere on the surface of the slot-trench. Soil samples were also taken, with a few retained for further analysis, including 14C dating.
The slot-trench did not take this form along the west and south-west perimeter. Indeed, it was difficult to identify any tangible evidence for the cut of a slot-trench here, except that a few stones set in the soil did appear to indicate the presence of a slot-trench along this section. It is presumed that the fill of the slot-trench in this area is similar to the surrounding clay, and there was no reason to believe that the slot-trench had been eroded away in this area.
In plan the slot-trench notably bulges out at the north-west, north-east and south-east corners of the structure. This may indicate the presence of post-holes that would provide support for the roof structure; however, this could not be confirmed. Alternatively, the slot-trench may have been enlarged or recut at these corners.
There was no clear evidence for an entrance to the structure.
Internal features
Internally a number of features could be identified. These included three possible stake-holes in the north-west angle of the structure. These features were not investigated, and their nature could not be confirmed.
Within the northern half of the structure are three areas of burnt soil (F2, F3 and F4). At the surface these three features had the same appearance – a circular area of charcoal-rich soil. All three were also raised above the surface, similar to the appearance of the slot-trench, and no doubt this was similarly due to the compacted nature of their respective fills and the differential erosion of the surrounding clays.
One of these features, F2, was half-sectioned. This confirmed that the feature was a shallow circular pit, measuring 0.6m across and 0.12m deep. The fill consisted of charcoal-rich sandy clay, featuring occasional fragments of cremated bone, as well as several sherds of pottery, flint and a worked piece of quartz. It is not yet clear if this represents a token cremation deposit, or simply a refuse deposit. Soil samples were also taken, with a few to further analyses, including 14C dating.
It is suggested that the other two features (F3 and F4) are similar pits to F2.
In the western area of the structure were two linear spreads of small stones, which measured roughly 1.8m long and 0.4–0.5m wide. These had the appearance of a possible metalled surface, except that they were simply sitting on the surface. It is not clear, therefore, if this is a direct result of erosion of the soils in which they were originally set, or if they were fortuitously deposited here by the erosion processes that removed the overlying top soil and exposed the structure.
Conclusion
A Neolithic house first identified in February 2006, but subsequently inundated by the Poulaphuca Reservoir, was exposed again in November 2007 following a prolonged period of drought that resulted in a drop of the reservoir’s levels. It was decided that the opportunity presented itself to investigate the structure, including the planning of the exposed features, and the limited investigation of a number of features. Two features were selected for investigation: the slot-trench forming the outline of a rectangular house structure, and an internal pit. Finds included pottery and lithics. It is proposed to have these analysed. Soil samples from both excavated features were also retrieved, and it is proposed to have these analysed for 14C dating, wood identification of charcoal, and pollen or other plant remains.
Within two days of the investigations described here the structure was again inundated by rising levels of the reservoir, following persistent rain. The structure is reasonably well protected from further erosion while it remains below water. However, in the long term the structure is very susceptible to erosion by fluctuating water levels of the reservoir.