2018:659 - Braghan, Baltray, Louth

The excavation comprised four cuttings based on the recommendations of test-excavations undertaken by Ian Russell in 2008 (Licence no. 08E0899) following geophysical survey (08R0291, Target Geophysics). The features identified comprise a series of pits and post-holes spread over an area of c. 200m east-west x 80m.
Cutting 1, a roughly rectangular opening of maximum dimensions of 43m north-west/south-east x 30m, contained seven pits, one of which was a cremation pit, and one pit/post-hole. Several potential features turned out to be non-archaeological and there were modern shallow plough furrows evident across the site.
Cutting 2, an irregularly shaped opening with maximum dimensions of 85m east-west x 45m, contained
39 pits, one a roasting pit and one a possible trough, seven post-holes and four pit/post-holes. Several potential features turned out to be non-archaeological and there was a modern linear feature to the east of the cutting with several features in clusters.
Cutting 3, another irregularly shaped opening with maximum dimensions of 102m east-west x 47m, contained 13 pits, one of which was a trough, and 8 post-holes, six of which were clustered around the trough.
Cutting 4, a sub-square shaped opening of c. 28m north-south x 26m, contained two pits and two post-holes with a modern linear feature traversing the cutting.
These features represent prehistoric settlement activity indicated by a combination of radiocarbon dates, flint artifacts and limited prehistoric pottery sherds retrieved from the features and in a general clean-back of the site. The lithic assemblage includes 111 flaked stone tools –cores, flakes, and blades – formed of flint and sandstone, and 4 ground stone tools including rubbing stones and a stone disc formed of sandstone. Prehistoric pottery sherds were recovered from a number of features e.g. pits C17, C45 & C47, while a single Cu-alloy rivet was also recovered from pit C17. Notable features included an Iron Age token cremation burial (31g of burnt bone, single adult) containing a stone bead/disk (pit C6) and charred barley seeds. Others showed evidence for the use of hot stone technology (troughs C151 and C133 and roasting pit C111). No coherent patterns for structures were discernable from the identified features though a series of post-holes (C153, C183 and C185), near the trough C151, contained packing stones and suggests a substantial structure. The trough C151 contained a thin clay basal layer C181, necessary for retaining water in the sandy subsoil encountered on site and some charred weed and cereal seeds and 4 unburnt and 1g burnt bone fragments in the upper fill C152. Hazel charcoal from the fill, C05, of a cremation pit, C06, produced a date of 0-130 cal AD 2ẟ (D-AMS 033787) and places it in the Iron Age period. Ash charcoal from the upper fill, C91, of a pit, C47, produced a date of 1400-1230 cal BC 2ẟ (D-AMS 033788) placing it in the Middle Bronze Age period. This pit also produced prehistoric pottery sherds and some flint artifacts. Prunus charcoal, of the genus covering blackthorn, cherry or plum trees, from the upper fill C152 of possible trough C151 produced a date of 980-830 cal BC 2ẟ (D-AMS 033789) placing it in the Late Bronze Age period.

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