2016:249 - BANBRIDGE: Old Manse Road (Ballydown) - Phase 2, Down

During test trenching a burnt mound was uncovered, measuring 8m x 7.1m; two troughs were uncovered associated with the burnt mound. Trough 1 (2.5m by 2m by 1.5m deep) was oval. J. Ó Néill’s analysis of troughs concludes that while this type of pit (Type 10) is only found within Ireland it is used throughout the Bronze Age (O’Neill, pp. 111 to 117). The rectangular Trough 2 (2.9m by 1.5m by 0.4m in depth) (Type 1) was typical for the British Isles, Ireland and Scandinavia and these were also used throughout the Bronze Age (O’Neill  pp. 86 to 92). The size of the spread indicates that each trough was used more than once, this is after the erosion and scattering of the burnt mound after millennia of ploughing and land reclamation.

Dates were sought for each of the troughs and a radiocarbon determination from charcoal from fill F28 from Trough 1 returned a date of 2960 +/- 30BP. At 2-sigma calibration this provided at date range of 1263 to 1056 cal BC. A radiocarbon determination from charcoal from fill F14 from Trough 2 returned a date of 2950 +/- 30BP. At 2 sigma calibration this provided at date range of 1260 to 1241 cal BC and 1236 to 1051 cal BC. No artefacts were recovered from the excavation.

Reference
Ó Néill, J. (2009) Burnt Mounds in Northern and Western Europe: A study of prehistoric technology and society, Germany: VDM Verlang Dr. Müller.