County: Wicklow Site name: BOYSTOWN OR BALTYBOYS UPPER
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 07E1127 ext.
Author: Chris Corlett, Department of Government. National Environment, Monuments Heritage Service, & Local Government
Site type: Neolithic house
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 698011m, N 708567m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.118647, -6.535805
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 of the Neolithic house (OD 184m) was formerly agricultural land on a gentle slope overlooking the King’s River, in the townland of Boystown or Baltyboys Upper. The shoreline in question is normally inundated by the reservoir, and only becomes exposed when the water levels drop.
The site was first identified when the water levels of the reservoir had dropped. However, following heavy rain the water levels rose and submerged the site again, and it was not until November 2007 that the levels dropped enough to allow the site to be revisited. On that occasion a small-scale excavation was carried out to confirm the nature of the site (Excavations 2007, No. 2004). A number of artefacts, including sherds of Neolithic pottery, confirmed that this was a Neolithic house; however, the rising of water levels cut short the investigations.
It was not until January 2009 that the reservoir levels dropped and the structure was again exposed. Investigations resumed immediately and on this occasion the slot-trench was further examined, as well as the three internal pits. Finds included further sherds of Neolithic pottery, a flint axe and a number of other lithic artefacts, including a flint Bann flake that was found at the base of a large post-pit that cut the slot-trench.
Water levels rose and submerged the site before the excavation of the site could be completed.
