Ring-ditch

The National Monuments Service's description

Large plectrum-shaped enclosure (WI013-127----) of possible late prehistoric date was excavated in 2020 under licence 17E0292 by Muireann Ní Cheallacháin for IAC Archaeology during construction phase of residential development by Cairn Homes PLC. Cropmark of large enclosure visible on Google Earth orthoimage taken 12/07/2013 which also shows the presence of two ring-ditches (WI013-128/129----) inside the enclosure which were also fully excavated. All of these features were excavated in Area 1A which also included the remains of a ploughed out burnt spread, a flat cemetery (WI013-130----), multiple token cremation burial pits, and a large stone-lined kiln, as well as isolated pits, postholes and later agricultural features.
Excavation was carried out in Area 1A following the identification of crop marks within the southwest corner of the proposed development a geophysical survey was carried out by Joanna Leigh in 2015 (Licence 15R0124). Detailed gradiometer survey in this area identified two clear circular ditch-type responses, correlating with the location of several curving crop marks, measuring c. 11.25m and 12.25m in diameter and several other responses of potential interest. The circular ditches appear to be contained within a larger ill-defined circular feature (possible enclosure). Following on from the geophysical survey, a programme of testing was undertaken in 2017 by Rob Lynch and Enda Lydon of IAC under licence no. 17E0292 (Lynch and Lydon 2017). Three areas of archaeology were identified in the testing assessment (Archaeological Areas 1–3). The remains are likely to be Bronze Age in date and are similar to other sites that have been recorded within the surrounding landscape. The core of Archaeological Area 1 comprises the two circular anomalies, an outer enclosure and associated features as identified in the geophysical survey and aerial photography in the southwestern portion of the site.
Monument consisted of 'a ring-ditch (diam c. 10m) located 7m to E of a second ring-ditch (WI013-128----) standing in centre of large enclosure (WI013-127---). The eastern ring-ditch contained two main sandy fills that showed evidence of natural in-filling and deliberate backfilling, and like the ring-ditch to the west, an upper concentration of stone was located only along the south and south-western extent of the ring-ditch. Occasional fragments of cremated bone were recovered from the upper fill C358. A top layer of charcoal rich silty sand (C357) was located in the southeast quadrant of the ring-ditch. This layer contained frequent amounts of cremated bone and may represent a secondary token deposition of human cremated bone within the backfilled ring-ditch. A few sherds of prehistoric pottery were recovered from this layer, while a large amount of flint debitage was found throughout the ring-ditch. A token cremation burial pit was dug into the upper fill of the ring ditch between the stone layer and the charcoal rich layer. The
burial pit contained two silty sand fills with occasional charcoal and a larger
concentration of cremated bone noted in the top fill. A possible posthole was also dug into the upper fill of the ring-ditch c.2m to the northeast of the token cremation pit. The posthole contained a charcoal rich sandy silt (C362) and may have functioned as a marker for the secondary burial deposition within the ring-ditch' (Ní Cheallacháin and Spencer 2020, 7-8).

See attached Google Earth orthoimage

Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien

Date of upload: 10 November 2020

References

Ní Cheallacháin, M. and Spencer, D. 2020 Preliminary archaeological report monitoring and excavation at Farrankelly (Sites 1-6) Greystones, Co. Wicklow (Licence: 17E0292) Unpublished report prepared by IAC Ltd for Cairn Homes PLC.

Lynch, R. and Lydon, E. 2017 Archaeological Assessment at Farrankelly, Greystones, Co. Wicklow (Licence: 17E0292). Unpublished report prepared by IAC Ltd for Cairn Homes PLC.