2023:104 - Ardan, Tullamore, Offaly

A programme of archaeological testing was conducted between 12 and 18 January 2023 at the location of a proposed development in Ardan townland, Tullamore, County Offaly. Some of these trenches were designed to target geophysical anomalies identified during a previous survey (licence 20R0267) carried out in 2021. One trench was partially targeting a recorded monument site captured from cropmarks (ring-ditch - OF017-104----) in order to identify the accurate location, extent and potential for nearby features. Excluding trench T4 (associated with ring-ditch OF017-104), no archaeological features were identified within the remainder trenches. Agricultural features in the form of cultivation furrows and drains were present in most of the trenches, along with a large field boundary. Ground disturbance was noted in several locations, some of them likely being machine-dug geological tests, quarrying pits or, in the case of T1, likely associated with the construction of the neighbouring dwellings. The targeted geophysical anomalies showed to be a mixture of variations in the natural subsoil (i.e. pockets of gravel) or modern disturbance

Ring-ditch OF017-104 :

Trench T4 revealed the western-most portion of the ring-ditch OF017-104. The exposed curving ditch measured 0.9m in width, approximately 0.25m in depth and an overall estimated diameter of approximately 10m. The fill of the ditch consists of a light orangey-brown sandy clay with frequent pebble inclusions distinguishable from the surrounding natural subsoil. Approximately 2.6m east of the inside edge of the uncovered ring-ditch, the lower half of an inhumation was found within what seems to be a shallow and narrow cut.

Human remains (Inhumation) :

Human remains (possibly late prehistoric/early medieval inhumation) were found at the very eastern end of trench T4, approximately 2.6m east of the interior edge of ring-ditch OF017-104. The human remains (likely corresponding to an adult male) were exposed at 0.33m under the current ground surface in what appears to consist of a shallow and narrow grave cut, orientated east-west. Only the lower two thirds of the remains were visible, with the upper third remaining undisturbed beyond the northern edge of the trench. The visible skeletal remains measured 1.35m in length and 0.3m in width. The remains appeared to be contained within a narrow grave cut measuring only 0.34m in width, with a visible dark brown organic material surrounding the remains on the interior edge of the cut. While conjectural in the absence of excavation, this could be speculated as the remnants of the former inhumation container.

Burnside, St. Oran's road, Buncrana, Co. Donegal