Excavation - miscellaneous

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture 140m N of a stream that marks the townland boundary with Knockuregare. Not depicted on OSi historic maps. Identified as (BGE 3/77/21) in 2002 by Ken Wiggins (Licence 02E0119) during topsoil-stripping on the Bord Gáis Éireann Pipeline to the West. Ditch excavated in 2002 by Brian Halpin under licence No. 02E0517 the results of which were summarised as follows; ‘This site was next to the edge of a baulk; its extent is therefore unclear. It is the remnant of a shallow ditch. The curvilinear feature measured 2.6m east–west by 0.5m when exposed. It was shallower than the ditch noted in the above site, but, owing to its proximity, may be associated with it. Minor amounts of pottery, which were similar to and may be related to the reconstructed vessel from (LI039-181---), were recovered from this feature. A curvilinear feature was uncovered lying just to west. This feature, measuring 6.7m north–south by 0.7m, was linear and U-shaped, with steep sides and a generally flat base, and was cut into the yellow/orange boulder clay. It had three fills of varying grey/brown silty clay with very occasional charcoal flecking. It may be part of a larger ditch feature that has not survived (Halpin 2004, 298-9; Grogan 2007, 244)’. Monument has been fully excavated and is not visible on aerial images.

Compiled by: Martin Fitzpatrick

Date of upload: 20 May 2021

References

Halpin, B. 2004 Ballingayrour (BGE 3/77/7-9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19); Various. In I. Bennett (ed.) Excavations 2002: Summary Accounts of Archaeological Excavations in Ireland, 298-9, No. 1087. Wordwell, Bray.

Grogan, E., O'Donnell, L. and Johnston, P. 2007 The Bronze Age landscapes of the pipeline to the West. Bray. Wordwell.