2017:800 - Ballynagran, Wicklow

Archaeological monitoring of ground disturbance was undertaken at a landfill development between September-November 2016. The monitoring identified six separate areas of archaeological potential that were excavated from November 2016 to January 2017.

A fulacht fia was located in the north-east of the field, at ITM 726584 691581. It comprised of a large mound of heat-fractured stones and charcoal-enriched soil concentrated in an area measuring 14.5m x 13.5m. The mound was located immediately north and west of a concrete animal feeder and was disturbed by both the feeder and a number of field drains that ran both north-south and east-west. Manual excavation of the mound material revealed that it extended to a maximum depth of 0.68m and was constructed on top of the natural grey silty clay. The mixed burnt angular stones and loose clay had moderate charcoal inclusions throughout. The mound was highest in the centre and sloped gently to the north, south and west. Four modern linear cuts had been excavated through the mound for drainage purposes. Off centre to the north an irregular shaped area of burnt stone was cut into the natural. The cut measured 5m x 2.4m and was 0.3m deep. It had sloping sides and a relatively level base. The fill was similar to the mound material and consisted of small angular heat-shattered stones and dark brown/silty clay with moderate charcoal inclusions.
In the east of the site the remains of the trough feature were revealed in the section face of the existing field ditch. The original form of the cut was imperceptible due to disturbance, however the north side of the feature sloped steeply and it had a flat base. What survived extended for a length of c. 2.9m, was 1.9m in maximum width and c. 1m in depth. The fill comprised of loose silty clay with mixed burnt stone covering an area c. 2.9m x 1.9m. The feature and fill had been disturbed by field drainage pipes, a drainage ditch and a large concrete sump. A single piece of timber (1.9m x 0.53m) was found below the burnt stone in the north of the trough. It consisted of a split tree trunk that had been utilised as part of the base for the trough.

At ITM 726598 691531 a sub-circular area of small angular stones was uncovered directly below the topsoil. The feature, as initially identified, measured 2.8m x 2.4m and was cut into the natural subsoil. Cleaning back of the feature revealed that the angular stones covered an irregular shaped area orientated east-west and measuring 4.4m in length and 1.9m in width. Excavation uncovered three shallow cuts filled with angular stones (Av. Size 120mm x 70mm x 30mm). The stones were brittle, however no charcoal inclusions were identified. The feature was not of archaeological significance.

At ITM 726579 691583 a concentration of cultivation furrows, a remnant field boundary/drainage ditch and a number of possible post-holes cut into the natural were recorded. A total of twelve linear east-west-running features, representing cultivation ridges, were identified. They generally measured 0.2-0.3m in width and 0.1-0.3m in depth. Six possible post-holes and three areas of dark staining were excavated within the area of the cultivation ridges. All were cut into the natural and were filled with a loose sandy clay. It was not possible to determine their function. A linear feature, representing the remains of a field boundary/drainage ditch, ran roughly north-west/south-east. The cut had sloping sides and a flat base and tapered from top to bottom with the width at top 0.65m and at base 0.3m.

At ITM 726505 691524 an irregular shaped feature was cut into the subsoil. Orientated roughly north-south, it measured 3.1m in length and 1.1m in width and 0.23m in maximum depth. The sides sloped gently and the cut had a flat base. The fill was a mix of grey/brown silty clay with small stones and occasional charcoal inclusions. The feature was not of archaeological significance.

At ITM 726476 691512 an irregular shaped spread of mixed clay and heat-shattered stones extended for a length of c. 8m and was c. 4m wide. The feature was located adjacent to, and cut by, a field boundary drain. A section recorded through the feature indicated that it had a maximum depth of 0.24m. It was not of archaeological significance.

At ITM 762567 691430, an irregular shaped area (L 5.3m, W1.3m) of heat-shattered stone mixed with dark brown silty clay was identified. Excavation revealed that the area consisted of two cuts and associated fills. The first (C100) was an irregular shaped cut orientated roughly north-south. It measured 3m x 1.55m and was 0.5m in maximum depth. The sides of the cut sloped gently in the north, south and west and steeply in the east. The fill (C99) was a loose brown sticky clay with frequent small fragmented stone inclusions and occasional charcoal. The second cut (C102) was an oval in shape and orientated roughly north-east/south-west. It measured 2.6m x 1.7m and was 0.28-0.3m in max. depth. The north end of the cut was disturbed by a machine track however elsewhere the sides sloped gently and the base was relatively flat. The fill (C101) was a loose brown sticky clay with frequent small fragmented stone inclusions and occasional charcoal.

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