2014:164 - BALLINPHUILL, Roscommon

Archaeological test excavation of a former forestry plantation at Ballinphuill, Co. Roscommon took place between the 27th of February and the 2nd of March 2014. The site is located to the south of a ringfort RMP RO008-046.  Testing involved the mechanical excavation of 16 trenches with a cumulative length of 835m. The testing exposed an entirely natural stratigraphy throughout the site comprising a thin topsoil over a compact natural clay. The only feature of note was a sub-circular, charcoal spread 0.6m in diameter in Trench 3 (ITM E566370, N793031). This feature was half sectioned and contained some small charcoal flecks with no associated finds or features. This could be a fire spot or evidence of field clearance by burning.