2008:686 - Ballyhimmin, Kilkenny

It was proposed to redevelop a greenfield site at Ballyhimmin, Castlecomer, with a shop and store building, bulk stores as well as ancillary facilities including signage, drainage, car-parking, landscaping and associated siteworks. Five trenches each over 200m long were excavated to give comprehensive site coverage. Trenches 1 to 4 were excavated on the level ground above the river valley, while Trench 5 was excavated between the foot of a steep hill and the bank of the River Deen. The entire field had been subject to regular deep ploughing and large quantities of fieldstone are dumped above the steep-sided slope of the river valley. A ridge of stony gravel was apparent in the ploughed soil prior to the testing. No finds or features of archaeological significance were uncovered in the course of the testing.