Charcoal-making site

The National Monuments Service's description

Ballard, excavated in October 2007 by Liam McKinstry, Headland Archaeology Ltd under licence No. A033; E2493 in advance of the proposed N52 Tullamore bypass national road scheme, was situated approximately 2km to the south-west of Tullamore town centre, where the scheme crosses the R421 road to Kinnitty. Prior to site clearance the land was heavily wooded with deciduous trees. A shallow circular cut with a diameter of 1.25m and a depth of 0.15m was identified in the northern end of the first offset trench within the field. The pit had a single charcoal-rich fill, with the charcoal inclusions increasing in concentration near to the base of the feature. An area of c. 5m by 5m was opened around the feature but no further archaeological features or deposits were identified. A sample of the pit fill will be used to date the pit and identify the species of tree used in the production of charcoal at that location (Bennett 2010, 394).

Compiled by Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload/revision: 07 November 2011