2010:469 - Redcow and Ballynahattin, Louth

Testing was undertaken in advance of proposed site development works associated with lands zoned for employment and mixed use at Redcow and Ballynahattin, Co. Louth. The assessment was undertaken on behalf of Cadran Limited for McParland Brothers (Ire) Ltd. A request for further information, in the form of a geophysical survey and archaeological testing of the site, was issued by Louth County Council in February 2010.
The geophysical survey (licence 10R42) was carried out by Target Archaeological Geophysics in April 2010. The geophysical investigation focused on the three main areas of potential highlighted in the EIS and by subsequent research and interrogation of aerial photography. These were LH007–013 (a possible ringfort/rath); potential 17th-century activity associated with a possible Williamite camp; and four possible circular cropmarks/possible ring-ditches. The area in the vicinity of a possible standing stone (LH007–179), identified in the EIS and positioned immediately outside the development, was also assessed by the survey. The geophysical survey was successful in identifying two circular enclosures corresponding to ring-ditches identified from aerial photography and the two conjoined enclosures associated with LH007–013 (possible ringfort/rath site). A number of irregular and indiscrete responses were recorded across the survey area which were interpreted as being of possible archaeological origin. No definite archaeological-type responses associated with the possible 17th-century Williamite camp or the standing stone were identified.
Test-trenching took place over a five-day period between 29 September and 20 October 2010. This was carried out using a 12-tonne track machine excavator equipped with a flat, toothless bucket. A total of 37 trenches were mechanically investigated across the development area, with extra, offset trenches, excavated where necessary.
Testing identified eleven areas of archaeological activity. Six areas were identified within the wayleave of the proposed distribution roads and attenuation ponds (i.e. the infrastructure works area) and this included monument LH007–013. Five archaeological areas were identified in the areas outside the infrastructure works area.
Testing has confirmed the presence and extent of LH007–013 and identified four ring-ditches, three of which were clearly depicted on the aerial photography. The archaeology identified within the wayleave of the proposed infrastructure works includes site LH007–013 in the southern portion of the distribution roads and groups of small-scale, but widely dispersed, charcoal-rich post-holes and pits (perhaps defining small structures), dispersed habitation features, a burnt mound and a small ring-ditch in the northern sections of the distribution road.
Archaeological Areas 1–6
Archaeological Areas 1–6 were within the wayleave of the distribution roads and attenuation ponds and included LH007–013 and a possible ring-ditch (Ring-ditch 4), which is c. 7m diameter. Two possible structures were also tentatively identified (Structures 1 and 2). Structure 1 is c. 10m in diameter and is defined by a roughly circular arrangement of six charcoal-rich pits and post-holes. Structure 2 is defined by five features with charcoal-flecked fills and included a central pit with a possible circular arrangement of post-holes forming an arrangement of features c. 12m in diameter. In addition to these, a dispersed group of pits and post-holes were recorded across a 30m stretch of Trench 29, to the north-east of Structure 2. A small, truncated burnt mound (6m x 4m) was also identified close to the eastern boundary of the site in Trench 30, an area of the site which is low-lying and liable to flooding.
Testing suggests that there is a marked concentration of archaeological activity in the areas around the ring-ditches in the northern sections of the site.
LH007–013 (ringfort/rath)
Testing has confirmed that this site comprises an inner circular enclosing ditch and outer/conjoined ditch. The inner enclosing ditch is 3.5m wide and 1.1m deep. The outer ditch was found to be 4.5m wide and 1.5m+ deep. The total diameter of this monument is c. 80m. No internal features were detected by the testing within the area defined by the enclosure ditch; however, a small charcoal-rich pit was identified outside the limits of the outer ditch. It was clear from testing that the internal area of the ringfort, also the topographically highest point of the site, has been subject to truncation by agricultural ploughing over the centuries. Despite the fact that no archaeological features were found during testing (in the internal area), there is still a possibility that subsoil-cut features (post-holes and pits) survive outside the footprint of the test-trenches.
No further external ditches were recorded in the vicinity of the ringfort with the exception of an isolated pit c. 20m to the north-west. Testing has confirmed that the ringfort did not have an outer enclosing element. No finds or ecofacts were recovered during the testing of this ringfort, with the exception of a small assemblage of degraded animal bone, and as a result it is not possible to date this site during the assessment phase of works. It is possible that this site dates to the early medieval period (ad 500–1100); however, a later, medieval date (ad 1100–1600) cannot be discounted at this time.
Archaeological Areas 7–11
Strategic test-trenches were excavated over a selection of the main geophysical anomalies outside the infrastructure works area, including the identified ring-ditches. Five areas of archaeological activity were identified (Archaeological Areas 7–11). Testing has confirmed the location and extent of three ring-ditches (Ring-ditches 1–3) identified in aerial photography and subsequent geophysical survey (Archaeological Areas 9–11). The remains of a post-medieval house depicted on the first-edition OS mapping (1835–36) was also confirmed by the testing, as was a large deposit of 19th–20th-century soil deposits in the eastern part of the site (between Trenches 26 and 31), which signifies 20th-century land-improvement works. These deposits are depicted on the aerial photographs by large irregular darkened anomalies.
The ring-ditches
The ring-ditches were identified in a distinct landscape setting in the northern part of the site, either side (north and south) of the distribution road, while one ring-ditch (Ring-ditch 4, described above) was found within the wayleave of the distribution road. This part of the field is relatively flat and well drained as the underlying subsoil comprised primarily sands and gravels. A further ring-ditch highlighted in the aerial photography was not identified during testing; however, it is possible that the trench targeted at its location was positioned too far to the north and that this ring-ditch is extant immediately south of the excavated trench.
Ring-ditch 1 is defined by a circular ditch which varied from 3m wide and 1.1m deep to 5.5m wide and 1.5m deep. The diameter of this ring-ditch is c. 40m. Ring-ditch 2 is defined by a circular ditch which is 4m wide and 1.2m deep. The diameter of this ring-ditch is c. 20m. Ring-ditch 3 is defined by a circular ditch which is 2m wide and 0.7m deep. The diameter of this ring-ditch is c. 11m.
This ring-ditch group is positioned c. 250m to the south-east of the final Neolithic/early Bronze Age (c. 2500–2200 bc) cemetery that was excavated by David Bayley at LH004–134 (Carn More 5, Excavations 2003, No. 1275, 03E0873). Ring-ditches and cist burials were excavated at this site, from which at least twenty pottery vessels were found. This cemetery is also located just over 1km to the north-east of a significant enclosure in the townland of Carnbeg (LH007–012), which is likely to represent a late Neolithic/Bronze Age henge. The proximity of two large ritual sites to another indicates that this was a significant ceremonial landscape during the late Neolithic–Bronze Age period. It is possible that these ring-ditches discovered during testing may be associated with, or a wider part of, the cemetery previously identified at Carn More 5.
Field boundaries and agricultural features
In addition to the above numerous field boundaries, field ditches and furrows were recorded across the site. These features correspond well to the location of removed field boundaries and linear trends highlighted in the historic mapping and depicted on the geophysical survey as agricultural cultivation features.
Possible Williamite camp and possible standing stone (LH007–179)
No definitive evidence of the possible 17th-century Williamite camp was uncovered during the testing programme.
No archaeological features were identified in the trench positioned in the immediate vicinity of the possible standing stone LH007–179.