Excavation - miscellaneous

The National Monuments Service's description

Archaeological testing (E4128) during 2010 on a D-shaped area (dims c. 220m NE-SW; c. 180m NW-SE) S of the N11 motorway at Ballyellin identified some prehistoric features as well as a rectangular structure (WX003-049----) that is c. 95m further N. This area, known as Ballyellin 2, was completely excavated (E4147) in August 2010.
Six pits (dims c. 07m x 0.4m; D 0.1m 2.3m x 0.8m; D 0.2m) contained clays with elements of heat-shattered stone, charcoal, flint, burnt bone and pottery. Two isolated pits produced a flint flake and a C14 date of cal. BC 1770-1610, and 25 flints in toal were recovered. However, the rest of the features are 12-14th century in date, confirmed by 95 sherds of Leinster cooking ware and a C14 date of cal. AD 1280-1400. One pit was incorporated with a N-S gully (Wth c. 0.45m; D c. 0.2m; L 7.5m) which may have connected with an E-W gully (Wth 0.5-0.7m; D 0.05-02m) at its N end, but the junction of the two was cut by a NW-SE ditch (Wth 1.8m; D 0.5m) that produced a polished stone axehead in its upper fill. (McLoughlin and Lynch 2010, 7; McLoughlin 2010, 6-13; McLoughlin 2013)

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 6 February, 2013

References

McLoughlin, G. and Lynch, R. 2010 N11 Gorey North Service Area Scheme. E4128. Unpublished report. Irish Archaeological Consultancy

McLoughlin, G. 2011 N11 Gorey North Service Area Scheme. E4147. Final excavation report. Unpublished. Irish Archaeologogical Consultancy

McLoughlin, G. 2013 Ballyellin 2. Pits, gully and ditch. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 2010: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 222-3, No. 702. Dublin. Wordwell.