County: Kilkenny Site name: Ballynaslee
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 12E0342
Author: James Eogan
Site type: Undated settlement activity
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 642636m, N 675022m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.824476, -7.367381
Test excavations took place in the townland of Ballynaslee along the proposed N77 Ballynaslee Realignment Scheme in County Kilkenny, approximately 5km north of Ballyragget and 4.5km south of Durrow, Co. Laois. The road development is approximately 0.5km west of the River Nore. Previously a geophysical survey of a portion of the route 200m west of the 13th-century Ballyclippoge Church and graveyard (KK004-002) had been undertaken by Earthsound Ltd (08R269). No archaeologically significant geophysical anomalies were identified. One hundred and thirteen test trenches (aggregate length 2550 linear metres) were opened within 14 fields along the route of the proposed scheme. The following archaeological sites were identified:
Field 2, Ballynaslee 1: Two pits, oxidised spread (centred at NGR 242516 175562).
Field 5, Ballynaslee 2: Pit, filled with heat-shattered stone in a charcoal-rich soil matrix; an amorphous charcoal-flecked spread (centred at NGR 242687 175017).
Field 10, Ballynaslee 3: Three possible pits and ashy deposits (centred at 242850 174495).
Field 11, Ballynaslee 4: Curvilinear feature, a possible post-hole and a small spread (centred at 242847 174450).
None of these features appear to be related to the use of the nearby church or graveyard, they appear to represent sporadic settlement-type activity. None of these sites can be preserved in situ; it is anticipated that they will be excavated in 2013.
Test excavation on the N77 Ballynaslee Realignment. The ivy-covered remains of ‘Ballyclippoge Church’ are visible in the background (photo credit: James Eogan).
National Roads Authority, Tramore House RDO, Tramore Co. Waterford
