2008:649 - Ballyburn Upper, Kildare

Testing (Phase 1) was undertaken at the site of a new quarry in Ballyburn Upper, Co. Kildare, on behalf of the Irish Concrete Federation and Dan Morrissey (IRL) Ltd. The development is situated 3km south-west of Castledermot, 0.5km east of the main Castledermot to Carlow road and 1km south of the new N9/N10 Carlow bypass. The development site is currently being used for tillage agriculture and consists of a field c. 200 acres in size.
Based on the results of a geophysical survey carried out by Earthsounds, seven separate areas containing a total of 25 linear trenches were excavated. Archaeological features were uncovered in Areas 1, 3, 5 and 8 (Area 7 was not tested). The geophysical survey also detected a probable bi- or trivallate enclosure, probably a ringfort, in Area 9 to the south of the areas tested in this phase. It is intended to test Area 9 as part of Phase 2 works.
Area 1 was close to the northern limit of the site and revealed a possible kiln and associated charcoal-production pit. Several pits, post- and stake-holes with no discernible pattern were also uncovered. The kiln appeared figure-of-eight in plan with fire-reddened clay at the eastern end. Interpretation of this feature as a kiln was not entirely certain. Although it was figure-of-eight in plan with relatively intense fire reddening at one end, it was quite small and shallow, at 1.9m in length, 0.7m in width and 0.1m in depth. If there was a superstructure it had been removed due to deep ploughing. The associated charcoal-production pit was located 1.6m to the south of the probable kiln. It measures 1.35m in length, 0.4m in width and 0.1m in depth. Its entire base and sides were fire-reddened and it contained c. 80% charcoal below a deposit of clayey silt. The remaining features in Area 1 were possible pits, post- and stake-holes. No coherent pattern was discernible and fills of these features did not provide any finds or recognisable environmental material (prior to specialist analysis) to identify the purpose of these features.
Area 3 revealed two small pits, one of which measured 0.62m in length, 0.5m in width and 0.22m in depth and produced a sherd of probable (Bronze Age) prehistoric pottery.
Area 5 was clearly the location of significant archaeological activity with numerous features uncovered in several trenches. These included a group of five medium-sized circular pits, one of which was 0.67m in diameter and 0.51m in depth and contained burnt and unburnt bone and much charcoal. Two probable charcoal-production pits, two clusters of post- and stake-holes with no coherent pattern, deposits of charcoal-rich silty clay with much animal bone and several linear features were also located here.
Area 8 contained three linear features. One of these appeared to be a possible foundation trench with vertical sides and a flat base and measured 0.2m in width and 0.22m in depth. The second was possibly a drainage feature. The third corresponded with the location of a field boundary as depicted on the first-edition OS map.
Except for the possible prehistoric pits in Area 3, it appears as though significant archaeological remains associated with the enclosure or ringfort are located on this site.
Post-excavation analysis is ongoing.