2016:404 - Ballynilard, Tipperary

Testing was undertaken at Ballynilard, Co. Tipperary from 20-22 September 2016. There are a number of recorded monuments in the townland of Ballynilard including four sites associated with 'Teampull San Sionáin’, a church (TS066-068001-), a High Cross (TS066-068002-), a Bullaun stone (TS066-068003) and a children’s burial ground (TS066-068004-). The church and children’s burial ground have no above-ground expression. The High Cross and Bullaun stone are still extant and are set on a low rise in improved grassland approximately 130m north of the R622.

The project involved the proposed construction of a solar farm 175m to the east of the church site. A geophysical survey carried out by J.M. Leigh Surveys in August 2016 identified several features of archaeological potential, the principle being a large circular enclosure ditch with an outer bank feature situated on a low hill in the middle field. In addition, four smaller circular anomalies interpreted as mounds or banks were found, two near the large enclosure (Nos 11 and 12) and one each in the western and eastern fields (2 and 13) respectively.

The testing programme confirmed the presence of the large enclosure visible as an infilled ditch located in Trenches 8-10. Within the interior of the enclosure were a number of archaeological deposits discernible as pits/post-holes/spreads. A portion of the ditch in Trench 10 was half sectioned to determine the nature and extent of the ditch. The cut was approximately 3.2m in width and had gradually sloping sides. The fill, C4, contained charcoal fleck and decayed stone, it was dug to a depth of 0.45m, but was not bottomed out due to weather constraints. Based on the testing results, the geophysical survey and the local topography the ditch probably represents a levelled ringfort.

The smaller circular anomalies (Nos 2, 11, 12 and13) were mostly identified by negative geophysical responses. These sites were interpreted as being archaeological in origin representing mounds or embankments, No. 12 being the exception with an associated horseshoe-shaped ditch. Testing in these areas failed to locate these anomalies; embanked features with no surface expression can be difficult to ascertain on the ground as they may only be recognisable by an increase in the depth of the subsoil. No variation in soil colour, sediment type or compaction was noted in these areas.

The only finds retrieved were from the top and subsoil and consisted of assorted sherds of modern pottery, mostly willow and blue patterned ware and a glass fragment.

Following the recording of the trenches, the recorded features were covered in Geo-textile and backfilled. The enclosure at Ballynilard was added to the Archaeological Survey Database in December 2016 as SMR TS066-200.

Moore Archaeological and Environmental Services, 3 Gort na Rí, Athenry, Co. Galway