Archaeological Report - Ballynamona 1, Co. Cork (Ireland)

Issue 10 [ISSN 2009-2237]

Archaeological Excavation ReportE2428 - Ballynamona 1, Co. Cork

Prehistoric activity

Eachtra Journal

May 2011

Archaeological Excavation Report

Co. Cork

Cork County Council

John Tierney and Penny Johnston

Ballynamona 1

EACHTRAArchaeological Projects

E No:

:

Project:

Client:

E2428

N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown

John TierneyExcavation Director

Written by:

Prehistoric activity at

CORKThe Forge, Innishannon, Co. Cork

tel: 021 4701616 | web: www.eachtra.ie | email: [email protected]

GALWAY Unit 10, Kilkerrin Park, Liosbain Industrial Estate, Galway

tel: 091 763673 | web: www.eachtra.ie | email: [email protected]

Archaeological Excavation ReportPrehistoric activity at

Ballynamona 1Co. Cork

Excavation Director

John Tierney

Written By

John Tierney and Penny Johnston

EACHTRAArchaeological Projects

© Eachtra Archaological Projects 2011 The Forge, Innishannon, Co Cork

Set in 12pt Garamond

Printed in Ireland

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Table of ContentsSummary��iii

Acknowledgements�� iv

1 Scopeoftheproject�� 1

2 Routelocation�� 1

3 Receivingenvironment�� 3

4 Archaeologicalandhistoricalbackground�� 4Mesolithic�(c��8000�to�4000�BC)�� 4

Neolithic�(c��4000�to�2000�BC)�� 6

Bronze�Age�(c��2000�to�500�BC)�� 6

Iron�Age�(c��500�BC�to�AD�500)�� 7

Early�medieval�period�(c��AD�500�to�1100)�� 8

High�and�later�medieval�periods�(c��AD�1100�to�1650)�� 9

Post-medieval�period�(c��1650�to�the�present)�� 9

5 SiteLocationandTopography�� 11

6 Excavationmethodology�� 11

7 Excavationresults�� 13Area�1��15

Area�2��17

Charcoal��23

Plant�remains��23

Pottery��23

Radiocarbon�dates��24

9 Discussion�� 24

10 References�� 27

Appendix1 StratigraphicIndex�� 31

Appendix2 Sitematrix�� 41

Appendix3 Groupsandsubgroups�� 43

Appendix4 Findsregister�� 51

Appendix5 Plantremains�� 53

Appendix6 Potteryreport��56

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List of FiguresFigure1: TherouteoftheN8FermoytoMitchelstownBypassoverlainontheOrdnanceSurvey

DiscoverySeriesmap�� 2

Figure2: TherouteoftheN8FermoytoMitchelstownBypassoverlainontheRMPmapCO010,011,019,020,027and028�ThemapisbasedonthesecondeditionOrdnanceSurveymaps�� 5

Figure3: TherouteoftheN8FermoytoMitchelstownBypassoverlainonthefirsteditionOrd-nanceSurveymapCO010,011,019,020,027and028��10

Figure4: Post-excavationplanofBallynamona1E2428�� 12

Figure5: Post-excavationplanofBallynamona1E2428Area1�� 14

Figure6: Post-excavationplanofBallynamona1E2428Area2��16

Figure7: IllustrationofEarlyBronzeAgeVaseUrn,Vessel2�� 19

Figure8: IllustrationofLateNeolithicGroovedWare,Vessel1�� 19

Figure9: NeolithicsitesonandintheenvironsoftheN8FermoyMitchelstown��26

Figure10: EarlyBronzeAgesitesonandintheenvironsoftheN8FermoyMitchelstown��28

List of PlatesPlate1: ViewoftheexcavationatBallynamona1(Area1)withthesurroundinghillsvisiblein

thebackground,fromthenorth-west(Photo:JohnSunderland)�� 13

Plate2: WorkingshotofexcavationsatBallynamona1(Photo:JohnSunderland)�� 15

Plate3: ViewoftheexcavationatBallynamona1(Area1),fromthenorth(Photo:JohnSunder-land)�� 17

Plate4: Post-excavationviewofpossiblecremationpit(C�86),fromnorth��18

Plate5: Post-excavationviewofpit(C�72),fromsouth-west��20

Plate6: Post-excavationviewofpit(C�76),fromnorth-east��21

Plate7: Post-excavationviewofpit(C�71)��22

Plate8: Partiallyexcavatedviewofpit(C�91),showingcharcoal-richfill,fromnorth��22

Plate9: South-eastfacingsectionoflinearfeature(C�77)��23

List of TablesTable1:Post-holedimensions�� 17

Table2:Pitdimensions��20

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http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2428-ballynamona1-co-cork/

SummaryThe excavation of the site at Ballynamona was spread over two areas (Area 1 and Area 2). Excavation revealed nine pits, two post-holes and a linear feature in Area 1 and 12 pits and two linear features from Area 2. Some finds of prehistoric pottery indicated Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age activity.

Road project name N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown BypassSite name Ballynamona 1E no. E2428Ministerial Order no. A040Site director John TierneyTownland BallynamonaParish BrigownBarony Condons and ClangibbonOS Map Sheet No. CO19National Grid Reference 182613 111460 - 182692 111490

iSSUE 10: Eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaEological Excavation rEport

iv

AcknowledgementsThe senior archaeologist was John Tierney and the post-excavation managers were Penny Johnston and Jacinta Kiely. Administration of the project was by Choryna Kiely and Fiona Greene. Illustrations are by Ben Blakeman and Maurizio Toscano. Photographs are by John Sunderland, Hawkeye and Eachtra Archaeological Projects. Specialist analysis was carried out by Mary Dillon, Penny Johnston, Helen Roche, Eoin Grogan and the 14 Chrono Centre at Queen’s University Belfast. The project was funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2007-2013 and was commissioned by Cork County Council on behalf of the National Roads Authority. The project archaeolo-gist was Ken Hanley.

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1 Scope of the project The archaeological works associated with the N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown Bypass was carried out on behalf of Cork County Council, National Road Design Office, Rich-mond, Glanmire, Co. Cork. The project was funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2007-2013. The total archaeological cost was administered by the National Roads Authority through Cork County Council as part of the Author-ity’s commitment to protecting our cultural heritage. The purpose of the archaeological services project was to conduct archaeological site investigations within the lands made available, to assess the nature and extent of any potential new sites uncovered and to preserve by record those sites of agreed archaeological significance, as approved by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government in consultation with the National Museum of Ireland.

Phase 1 of the project (archaeological testing of the route) was carried out in October 2005 under licence 05E1150 issued by Department of the Environment Heritage and Lo-cal Government (DoEHLG). The principal aim of this phase of the project was to test for any previously unknown sites by a programme of centreline and offset testing and to test sites of archaeological potential identified in the EIS and geophysical surveying. Five Cul-tural Heritage Sites were tested under individual excavation licences 05E1122-05E1126.

Phase 2 of the project (resolution) involved the resolution of all archaeological sites identified within the proposed road corridor prior to commencement of the construction of the bypass. This phase of the project was carried out from September 2006 to Septem-ber 2007 and excavations were conducted under the management of a Senior Archaeolo-gist. A total of 28 sites were excavated during this phase of works under separate licences issued by DoEHLG.

A post-excavation assessment and strategy document was prepared in Phase 3 of the project to present a management strategy for dealing with post-excavation work arising from archaeological works along the route of the new N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown By-pass. It included a proposal for post-excavation and archiving work and a budget for the works. The document detailed the location of the route, the receiving environment, the archaeological and historical background, the scope of the project and the circumstances and scope of fieldwork. The document presented a scheme-wide summary of the archaeo-logical findings, a research framework within which the findings were dealt with and a publication plan and dissemination strategy for the end results.

2 Route locationThe route of the N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown road is located in the rich pastureland of North Cork (Figure 1). The project involves the construction of c. 16 km of the N8 from Gortore north of Fermoy to Carrigane north-east of Mitchelstown. The N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown road passes through the townlands of Gortore, Ballynacarriga, Glenwood, Ballinglanna North, Ballinrush, Caherdrinny, Gortnahown, Ballybeg, Turbeagh, Glena-

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Figure1: TherouteoftheN8FermoytoMitchelstownBypassoverlainontheOrdnanceSurveyDiscoverySeriesmap�

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tlucky, Ballynamona, Kilshanny, Corracunna, Kildrum, Garryleagh, and Carrigane. The townlands are located in the parishes of Kilcrumper, Glanworth and Brigown and Barony of Condons & Clangibbon, with the exception of Gortore, and Glenwood, which are located in the Barony of Fermoy.

The route begins at the northern end of the Fermoy Bypass at Gortore, c. 2km north of Fermoy, and continues northwards across the River Funshion, and to the west of the Glencorra Stream, a tributary of the Funshion, for 4 km. At Caherdrinny, it crosses over the western extremities of the Kilworth Mountains. From there it descends north-east-wards onto the broad plain that extends east and north-eastwards from Mitchelstown. It crosses the existing N8 at Gortnahown and passes to the east of Mitchelstown, crossing the R665 Mitchelstown-Ballyporeen road and links up with the N8 Cashel Mitchelstown Road at Carrigane south of Kilbeheny and 2 km west of where the borders of the Cork, Limerick and Tipperary counties meet.

3 Receiving environmentThe topography of East Cork and Waterford consists of east/west valleys separated by in-tervening ridges. The ridges consist of sandstones and mudstones of the Devonian Period (Old Red Sandstone) laid down 355-410 million years ago and the valleys of Carbonifer-ous limestones laid down 290-355 million years ago. The sediments covering many of the rocks are mainly of glacial origin deposited by glacial ice or meltwater (Sleeman and McConnell 1995, 1).

The landscape of the area is dominated by the Galtee Mountains to the north, the Ballyhoura Mountains to the north-west, the Kilworth Mountains to the east and the Nagles to the south. The landscape is drained by the Blackwater River, the Funshion River (which flows into the Blackwater River c. 2 km north-east of Fermoy), and the Glencorra Stream, a tributary of the Funshion River. The largest population centres in the area, Fermoy and Mitchelstown, have developed on the banks of the River Blackwater and Gradoge (a tributary of the Funshion), respectively.

The route begins at Gortore, c. 2 km north of Fermoy, at an elevation of c. 40 m OD. At Caherdrinny, it rises to its maximum elevation of c. 180 m OD as it crosses over the western extremities of the Kilworth Mountains, before descending onto the broad plain that that extends east and north-eastwards from Mitchelstown, at an elevation of 100-120 m OD.

The soils on the southern portion of the route are characterised by acid brown earths derived from mixed sandstone and limestone glacial till. These soils occur generally in the valleys of Cork and Waterford (Gardiner and Radford 1980, 61), and have a wide use range, being suitable for tillage and grass production. The soils on the western limits of Kilworth Mountains are characterised by brown podzolics derived from sandstone. The soils on the northern portion of the route are characterised by brown podzolics derived from sandstone and shale glacial till. They have a wide range of potential uses and are well


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suited to arable and pastoral farming (ibid., 67). Land use along the route was almost en-tirely grassland devoted to intensive dairying and cattle-rearing, with only an occasional tillage field.

4 Archaeological and historical backgroundArchaeological sites of numerous periods were discovered along the route of the new road (Figure 2). The periods are referred to as follows: Mesolithic (c. 8000 to 4000 BC), Neolithic (c. 4000 to 2000 BC), Chalcolithic (Beaker) (c. 2500-2000 BC), Bronze Age (c. 2000 to 500 BC), and Iron Age (c. 500 BC to AD 500), early medieval period (c. AD 500 to 1100), medieval period (c. AD 1100 to 1650), post-medieval period (c. AD 1650 to the present).

A number of Giant Irish Deer (Megaloceros giganteus) skulls, large antlers, antler frag-ments and various long-bones were retrieved from the clay sediments, c. 1.5 m below the peat stratum at Ballyoran Bog (04E1014) on the route of the N8 Rathcormac Fermoy. A radiocarbon date of cal BC 11201-10962 was returned for the Giant Irish Deer. Gi-ant Irish Deer are extinct but are known to have inhabited Ireland during two separate periods in the Pleistocene (from 37,000-32,000 BP and 11,750-10,950 BP), with examples from lake deposits beneath peat bogs frequently dating to the period between 11,750 BP and 10,950 BP (Woodman et al. 1997). The Ballyoran Bog examples were found in this typical location of lacustrine (lake) sediments beneath peat and they therefore pre-date the beginnings of bog formation and the first human settlement of the area.

Mesolithic (c. 8000 to 4000 BC)The earliest known human settlement in Ireland dates from the Mesolithic period (c. 8000 BC - 4000 BC). In Munster, the majority of the evidence (flint scatters) for Meso-lithic occupation has ‘come from the Blackwater valley in Co. Cork’ (Woodman 1989, 116). Flint scatters were recorded in the townlands of Kilcummer Lower (CO034-060) on the northern bank of the Blackwater c. 13 km to the south-west of the route and in Ballynamona (CO018-099) and Wallstown (CO018-100) on the northern and southern sides of the Awbeg river respectively c. 20 km to the west of the route (Power et al. 2000, 2). Mesolithic sites and find spots were recorded on other road schemes in Co. Cork, these included; Rathhealy 3 03E1678 and Curraghprevin 3 03E1138 (N8 Rathcormac Fermoy Bypass), Ballynacarriaga 1 01E0567 (N25 Youghal Bypass), Ballinaspig More 5 01E0546 (N22 Ballincollig Bypass) and Carrigrohane 3 02E0431 (N22 BG).

Mesolithic activity was recorded on the route of the N8 Fermoy-Mitchelstown at Gortore E2410 and at Caherdrinny 3 E2422 and Mesolithic stone tools were recovered from Ballinglanna North 1 E2414, Ballinglanna North 3 E2416 and Ballinglanna North 6 E3972.

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Gortnahown 4E3832


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Figure2: TherouteoftheN8FermoytoMitchelstownBypassoverlainontheRMPmapCO010,011,019,020,027and028�ThemapisbasedonthesecondeditionOrdnanceSurveymaps�


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Neolithic (c. 4000 to 2000 BC)The Neolithic Period is characterised by the introduction of agriculture and the begin-nings of the clearance of the woodlands. The population increased and became more sedentary in nature. A substantial Neolithic settlement site has been recorded at Lough Gur, Co. Limerick. Previously the nearest known Neolithic house was located in Pepper-hill (CO016-226/01) c. 30 km to the northwest of the route. It was recorded during the construction of the Bruff-Mallow gas pipeline (Gowen 1988, 44-51).

The material culture includes the manufacture of pottery, flint and stone arrowheads, scrapers, axes etc. The range of monuments types includes Megalithic tombs, single burial graves and stone circles. Megalithic tombs can be sub-divided into court tombs, portal tombs, passage tombs and wedge tombs. There are few wedge tombs or stone circles known from north or east Cork. Two of the exceptions are wedge tombs located at Lab-bacallee (CO027-086), which is one of the largest wedge tombs in the country, and at Manning (CO027-091) both located c. 4 km west of the N8.

Recent infrastructural work on the N8 Rathcormac to Fermoy and the Ballincollig Bypass have added significantly to the number of Neolithic sites in the county. A Neo-lithic house was excavated at Gortore (E2119), on the N8 Rathcormac to Fermoy road and another Neolithic house was excavated at Barnagore (02E0384), along the route of the Ballincollig Bypass. Both of these Cork examples produced essentially the same ra-diocarbon results (cal BC 3940-3620 at Barnagore and cal BC 3928-3655 from Gortore) and they represent the oldest known houses in the county. A single pit at Fermoy town-land (05E0078), located c. 3 km to the south of Gortore, produced 12 sherds of a Middle Neolithic Globular bowl, and another site at Curraghprevin (c.12 km south of Gortore) produced Western Neolithic (Early Neolithic) pottery and a radiocarbon date of 3090-2580 BC (Late Neolithic).

Rectangular Neolithic houses were recorded on the route of the N8 FM at Gortore 1b (E2410), Ballinglanna North 3 (E2416) and Caherdrinny 3 (E2422). A large enclosure containing several structures associated with Late Neolithic pottery was excavated at Bal-lynacarriaga 3 (E2412). Activity dating to the Neolithic was also recorded at Ballynamona 1 (E2428), Ballynamona 2 (E2429), and Gortnahown 2 (E2426) and Gortore 2 (E3973).

Bronze Age (c. 2000 to 500 BC)The Bronze Age is characterised by the introduction of metallurgy and an increase in settlement and burial sites. Copper ores were mined and copper, bronze and gold items manufactured. The range of burial site types includes cist graves, pit and urn burials, cremation cemeteries, barrows, ring-ditches and wedge tombs. Stone circles and stand-ing stones also date to the Bronze Age. Both enclosed and unenclosed settlement sites are known. The most prolific Bronze Age site type is the fulacht fiadh; over 2,000 examples have been recorded in County Cork alone. These monuments survive as low mounds of charcoal rich black silt, packed with heat-shattered stones, and generally situated close to a water source. Fulachta fiadh are generally classified as ‘cooking places’, whereby stones

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were heated in a hearth and subsequently placed in a trough of water, the water continued to boil with the addition of hot stones and wrapped food was cooked within the hot wa-ter. The trough eventually filled with small stones, ash and charcoal that were removed, forming the basis of the familiar mound.

The Bronze Age cemetery site at Mitchelstowndown West, c. 16 km to the north of Mitchelstown, contains 53 small barrows. The Discovery Programme Report 1 (Daly and Grogan 1992, 44) selected four of this group for excavation.

Until recently, Bronze Age settlement sites were a rarity in North Cork. A Bronze Age occupation site was recorded underlying the medieval ringfort Lisleagh I (CO027-158) c. 2.5 km to the west of the N8 (Power et al. 2000, 210). A house site was excavated at Killydonoghoe on the route of the N8 Glanmire-Watergrasshill Bypass (Sherlock 2003). Three circular houses dating to the Middle Bronze Age were excavated at Mitchelstown (04E1072) on the N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road. A large Bronze Age settlement site con-sisting of three circular enclosures and three circular houses was excavated in 2003 at Ballybrowney (03E1058), on the route of the N8 Rathcormac-Fermoy (Cotter 2005, 40).

Bronze Age round houses were recorded on the route of the N8 Fermoy – Mitchelstown at Kilshanny 1 (E2432) and Ballynamona 2 (E2429). Burnt mounds/fulachta fiadh sites were recorded at Ballinglanna North 1 (E2414), Ballinglanna North 3 (E2416), Balling-lanna North 6 (E3972), Ballynamona 2 (E2429), Caherdrinny 1 (E2420), Kilshanny 3 (E2432) and Kildrum 1 (E3971). Two ring ditches and associated cists and pits burials were recorded at Ballynacarriga 3 (E2412). Portions of several encrusted urns and food vessels dating to the Early Bronze Age were recorded in association with the burials. A cremation burial and associated Early Bronze Age urn were also recorded at Glenatlucky (E2427).

Iron Age (c. 500 BC to AD 500)Until the last decade there was little evidence of a significant Iron Age presence in the Cork region. Settlement sites are few and far between as well as being difficult to identify (Woodman 2000) while the material culture of this period is limited. Linear earthworks, believed to have marked tribal boundaries, and hillforts are two of the most visible monu-ments of the period. Recent infrastructural work on the N22 Ballincollig Bypass, the N8 Glanmire Watergrasshill Bypass and the M8 Rathcormac Fermoy has altered the picture considerably.

Three separate stretches of a linear boundary, the Claidh Dubh, have been recorded in County Cork. The longest stretch, c. 24 km in length extends from the Nagle Mountains, across the Blackwater valley and into the Ballyhoura Hills. Radiocarbon dating following excavation of a section of it revealed it dated to some time before AD100 (Doody 1995, 23).

Two of the four hillfort sites in Cork are located in North Cork (Power et al. 2000, 205). Caherdrinny (CO019:97/01&03) is located at the western end of the Kilworth Mountains, c. 700 m to the west of the N8, Corrin (CO035:49/01) is located at the east-


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ern end of the Nagle Mountains, overlooking a pass between the Blackwater and Bride river valleys just south of Fermoy.

Iron Age dates were returned from a roundhouse at Ballinaspig More 5 01E0546, a possible bowl furnace at Curraheen 1 01E1209 and the fulacht fiadh at Curraheen 4 02E1297 on the N22 Ballincollig Bypass; the Iron Age structure at Muckridge 1 01E0429 on the N25 Youghal Bypass; iron working sites at Kilrussane 01E0701 and Trabstown 01E0501 on the N8 Glanmire Watergrasshill Bypass; the iron working site at Lisnagar De-mesne 1 03E1510, the pit at Maulane East 1 03E1286, the pit at Scartbarry 3 03E1800, the corn-drying kiln at Rath-healy 1 03E1139, the burnt mound at Fermoy Wood 04E1014 and the ring ditch at Ballybrowney Lower 3 05E0233 all on the M8 Rathcormac Fermoy.

Activity dating to the Iron Age was recorded on the route of the N8 Fermoy – Mitch-elstown at Ballinglanna North 3 E2416, Ballinglanna North 4 E2417, Ballynacarriaga 3 E2412, Gortnahown 1 E2423, Gortnahown 3 E2477 and Caherdrinny 3 E2422. The sites, with the exception of a single fire pit at Ballinglanna North 4 E2417, did not date exclusively to the Iron Age.

Early medieval period (c. AD 500 to 1100)The early medieval period is characterised by the arrival of Christianity to Ireland. The characteristic monument type of the period is the ringfort. Ringforts are the most nu-merous archaeological monument found in Ireland, with estimates of between 30,000 and 50,000 illustrated on the first edition of the Ordnance Survey 6” maps of the 1840’s (Barry 1987). As a result of continued research, the construction of these monuments has a narrow date range during the early medieval period between the 7th and 9th centuries AD. Although there are some very elaborate examples of ringforts, they often take the form of a simple earth or stone enclosure functioning as settlements for all classes of secu-lar society (Stout 1997).

A major research excavation of two ringforts was undertaken at Lisleagh, c. 2.5 km to the west of the N8 route, in the late 1980s/early1990s. Structural, domestic and industrial evidence was recorded at both sites. A number of stake and wattle round houses, and ironworking were recorded in Lisleagh I, which had two phases of occupation, ranging from the early 7th century to the 9th century AD (Monk 1995, 105-116).

Souterrains, frequently associated with ringforts and enclosures, are man made un-derground chambers linked by narrow passageways. The concealed entrance is located at ground level. It is thought souterrains were used for storage or places of refuge during times of trouble (Clinton 2001). It has also been hypothesised that some may have been used for housing slaves.

The monastery of Brigown (which gave the name to the modern parish in Mitch-elstown) was founded in the 7th century by Fanahan. Fanahan is reputed to have com-missioned seven smiths to make seven sickles which were used by him for self-mortifica-tion. The new monastery was named, Brí Gabhann, for the smiths (Power 1996, 3). The ecclesiastical remains comprise a church, graveyard, holy well and site of round tower

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(CO019:30/01-05). A possible enclosure site with evidence of metalworking was excavated by John Purcell in Brigown. This was possibly the enclosure of Brigown. No dates were obtained from the site (John Purcell personal communication).

A horizontal-wheeled mill (CO027-108) was located on the northern side of the Glen-corra Stream c. 120 m north of the confluence with the River Funshion.

A ringfort and associated souterrain (CO027-109) were excavated on the route of the N8 Fermoy – Mitchelstown at Ballynacarriga 2 (E2413). Two circular houses and a com-prehensive range of metalworking activities were excavated at Gortnahown 2 (E2426). Sites with evidence of metalworking activities were also excavated at Ballynamona 2 (E2429) and Ballinglanna North 1 (E2412).

High and later medieval periods (c. AD 1100 to 1650)This period is characterized by the arrival of the Anglo-Normans and the building of tower houses. Mitchelstown was formerly known as Brigown / Mitchelstown (CO019-149). It was listed as a market town in 1299 and was located on the southern bank of the Gradoge River, to the east of Mitchelstown Castle (Power et al. 2000, 595). The town developed under the patronage of the House of Desmond. It passed into the hands of the Earls of Kingston in the 17th century (Power 1996, 23).

The Condon family controlled the barony of Condons and Clongibbon. Two of their castles are located in close vicinity to the route of the N8 FM. Cloghleagh Castle (CO027:113) is located on the northern bank of the Funshion River to the east of the new route. It was built on an outcrop of limestone bedrock. It is a 5-storey tower with associated bawn wall (Power et al. 2000, 537). Caherdrinny Castle (CO019:97/02) is lo-cated to the west of the route. It was a 5-storey tower built within the hillfort enclosure (CO019:97/01&03). Glanworth Castle (Boherash CO027-42) is located on a sheer lime-stone cliff overlooking the River Funshion 5 km to the west of the route. The 13th-century hall house is associated with a four-sided walled enclosure (ibid. 516).

Post-medieval period (c. 1650 to the present)The post-medieval period is characterised by mills, limekilns, workhouses, country hous-es and associated demesnes, vernacular buildings and field systems (Figure 3). Three de-mesnes associated with country houses are within the route of the N8 at Moorepark, Ballynacarriga and Glenwood. The estate system was dismantled in Ireland in the early 20th century. Demesnes usually comprise of a large country house with associated stables, farm buildings and gate lodges, areas of woodland and ornamental gardens etc. The de-mesne was usually enclosed by a high stone wall such as that associated with Moorepark. Moorepark house and demesne was the seat of the Earls Mountcashell (Lewis 1988, 312). The Moorepark Estate covered an area around 800 acres and extended both north and south of the river Funshion. The house was sold to the British War Office c. 1903 by the 5th Earl’s daughter (Bence-Jones 1996, 211). It burned down in 1908 and was never

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Kildare

Dublin

Meath

Louth

Laois

Donegal Antrim

Armagh

Derry

DownFermanagh

Tyrone

Clare

Offaly

Limerick

Kerry

Cork

Waterford

Antrim

N8

RMP Sheet No. CO10RMP Sheet No. CO11

MP Sheet No. CO19 RMP Sheet No. CO20

RMP Sheet No. CO27

RMP Sheet No. CO28

Key

Townland Boundaries

Gortore 1BE2410

Gortore 2E3973







Ballinrush 1E2419

Caherdrinny 1E2420

Caherdrinny 2E2421

Caherdrinny 3E2422

Gortnahown 1E2423

Gortnahown 2E2426

Gortnahown 3E2477

Glenatluckly 1E2427

Ballynamona 2E2429

Ballynamona 1E2428

Garryleagh 1E2433

Carrigane 1E2434

Kilshanny 3E2432

Kilshanny 2E2431

Kilshanny 1E2430

Kildrum 1E3971



Gortnahown 4E3832


Ballynamona 1E2428

N

0km 2km


Post Medieval

Early Medieval

Prehistoric Site

Burnt Mound

Non-archaeological


10

Figure3: The route of the N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown Bypass overlain on the first edition Ordnance Survey mapCO010,011,019,020,027and028�

Ballynamona 1-E2428

11


rebuilt. No trace of it now survives The demesne is clearly defined by woodland on the 1841-2 and 1906 edition Ordnance Survey maps, which was most likely enclosed by a wall. It is likely that the demesne walls are contemporary with the mansion house and therefore date to the 18th century. The Cork to Dublin mail coach road originally ran to west of the demesne walls as it appears on the 1841-2 and 1906 Ordnance Survey maps.

The site of a workhouse (C0019-11301-) built in 1852 is located in Kilshanny townland to the east of Mitchelstown. The complex of buildings, including a hospital chapel and mortuary, was enclosed within a three-metre high limestone wall and could accommo-date up to 600 people. Closed in 1916 and burned by the IRA in 1922, only the boundary wall and main entrance way survive today (Power 2002, 48).

A late 19th century bridge of rubble limestone, approached by a causeway at either end, carries a tertiary road from Kilworth-Glanworth over the Glencorra Stream. A road crosses the stream at the same location on the 1841-2 Ordnance survey map, but the bridging structure is not named. The site is named Glencorra Bridge on the 1906 edition of the Ordnance Survey map and is of local architectural significance.

5 Site Location and TopographyThe site was situated on a flat plain, in a low lying area between the hills and mountains in the surrounding landscape (Plate 1). The site slopes slightly from the east down towards the west of the area of excavation.

The site is split into two areas (Figure 4) covering a distance of 95 m north to south. Area 1 measured 25 m north/south and 31 m east/west and Area 2 measured 22 m north/south and 33 m east/west. They had a combined area of 1067 sq. m. The northern extent lay approximately 500 m south of Ballynamona 2 (where metalworking furnaces, a fulacht fiadh/burnt mound and associated structure and two probably Bronze Age round houses were excavated) while the southern extent lay 650 m north of the Encrusted urn crema-tion burial at Glentalucky 1.

6 Excavation methodologyThe excavation was carried out under E-Number E2428 and complied with the method statement approved by the Department of Environment, Heritage, and Local Govern-ment, in consultation with the National Museum of Ireland. The site was mechanically stripped of topsoil under strict archaeological supervision. Stripping was done with a tracked machine with a flat toothless bucket. Where appropriate mini-diggers were used, and in the larger areas to be stripped multiple large tracked machines were used; all stripping operations involved the use of multiple dumpers for topsoil mounding. Topsoil stripping commenced in the areas of identified archaeology and continued radially out-ward until the limit of the road take was reached or until the limit of the archaeological remains was fully defined. A grid was set up in the excavation area(s) and all archaeologi-

89

31

71

3

39 11

67 7663

5557

47

81

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97

27

50

34

49

91

4

10

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107

72

86

42

101

5135 37

1826

00

1826

00

1827

00

1827

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111450

111500

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Area

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Area

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12

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Ballynamona 1-E2428

13


cal features were sufficiently cleaned, recorded and excavated so as to enable an accurate and meaningful record of the site to be preserved (Plate 2). The excavation, environmental sampling, site photographs, site drawings, find care and retrieval, on-site recording and site archive was as per the Procedures for Archaeological works as attached to the licence method statements for excavation licences.

The site was excavated from 26/02/07 to 16/03/07. Only areas within the CPO were resolved. The full extent of the area of excavation at Area 1 measured 492 m2 and Area 2 measured 575 m2.

7 Excavation resultsThe full record of excavated contexts is recorded in the context register (Appendix 1) and the stratigraphic matrix (Appendix 2). Detailed stratigraphic descriptions are found in the groups and sub-groups text (Appendix 3) and the artefacts are listed in the finds register (Appendix 4).

The site at Ballynamona 1 was discovered during Phase 1 archaeological testing of the new route, carried out under licence no. 05E1150 (Cotter et al 2006). Features found during testing included six pits, some containing prehistoric pottery. The site was clas-sified as a prehistoric settlement site on the basis of testing results. Excavation revealed

Plate1: ViewoftheexcavationatBallynamona1(Area1)withthesurroundinghillsvisibleintheback-ground,fromthenorth-west(Photo:JohnSunderland)�

45

31

3

39

11

47

2421

27

50

34

49

4

10

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51

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1826

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111465

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14

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Ballynamona 1-E2428

15


nine pits, two post-holes and a linear feature in Area 1 and 12 pits and two linear features from Area 2.

Area 1The archaeology in Area 1 included pits, post-holes and linear features (Figure 5, Plate 3).

PitsA total of nine pits were found in Area 1 (C.3, C.10, C.11, C.21, C.24, C.27, C.34, C.39 and C.42). The fills of all of these pits contained charcoal and the similarity in their fills may suggest that these were all the result of the same type of activity. However, the exact function of these pits is difficult determine. Charcoal from the fill of pit C.34, identified as hazel/alder, indicated activity in the Early Bronze Age, cal BC 1889–1750 (UB-13173).

Post-holesTwo post-holes were located in the centre of Area 1 (C.35 and C.37). On average they measured 0.32 m in length, 0.22 m in width and 0.13 m in depth. They were sub-circular in shape and had steeply sloping sides. The fills of both post-holes contained moderate charcoal inclusions. There is no indication of their function, and no associated features to indicate whether they originally formed part of a structure or a simple fence-line. They

Plate2: WorkingshotofexcavationsatBallynamona1(Photo:JohnSunderland)�

Late

Neo

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- Ves

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Early

Bro

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Age

Vase

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2

89

7167

76

63

55

57

81

97

91

60

107

72

86

101

1826

75

1826

75

1827

00

1827

00

111480

111480

111492

111492

111504

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020

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Area

1

Area

2


16

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Ballynamona 1-E2428

17


may also have been simple marking posts to indicate the location of below ground pits such as pit C.39, which is found immediately adjacent to the two post-holes.

Context Length Width DepthC.35 0.4 0.25 0.18C.37 0.24 0.2 0.08

Table1:Post-holedimensions

Linear featuresA single linear feature (C.45) was uncovered in Area 1. It was aligned north to south and measured 0.84 in width and 0.2 in depth; the length of the linear feature extended beyond the limit of the excavation. This linear feature represents a drainage ditch that was re-quired in order to remove water from low-lying Area 1. This feature probably represented a modern agricultural ditch, indicating that it post-dated the other archaeological activity on this site.

Area 2The archaeology in Area 2 included pits (some of which contained funerary pottery) and two linear features (Figure 6).

Pits A total of 12 pits were excavated in Area 2. These can be divided into three separate categories: pits that contained prehistoric pottery (C.55 and C.86), three pits associated

Plate3: ViewoftheexcavationatBallynamona1(Area1),fromthenorth(Photo:JohnSunderland)�


18

with pit C.55 (C.57, C.60 and C.63) and seven other charcoal-filled pits (C.67, C.71, C.72, C.76, C.81, C.91 and C.107).

Prehistoric pottery was found in two pits (C.55 and C.86) in Area 2. The first (C.55) was oval in shape and concave in profile and it measured 0.85 m in length, 0.74 m in width and 0.1 m in depth. The pit contained thirty-six sherds of a Vase urn (E2428:56:1-58) and charcoal fragments. The pottery was identified as being from a single vessel (Ves-sel 2, Figure 7). Although this pottery type is usually associated with burial there was no cremated bone in this pit and it therefore appears that this particular Vase urn was not used as funerary ware.

The second pit (C.86) was located 8.5 m to the west of the pit (C.55). It was sub-circu-lar in shape and concave in profile and it measured 0.5 m in length, 0.4 m in width and 0.12 m in depth (Plate 4). Occasional charcoal pieces were recovered from both fills and nine sherds of prehistoric pottery (E2428:87:1-9) were recovered from the primary fill of this feature, all identified as being from one Grooved Ware vessel (Vessel 1, Figure 8). The pottery indicates activity in the Late Neolithic. Hazel/alder charcoal found within this pit returned a radiocarbon date of cal BC 3760–3644 (UB-12975), indicating an Early Neolithic date of activity. This pit appeared heavily truncated in modern times (possibly due to agricultural activities).

Although these two pits were the only contexts at the site where pottery was found, the two contexts appear to be unrelated since the pottery from the pit (C.55) was Late Neolithic while the pottery from pit (C.86) was Early Bronze Age.

Plate4: Post-excavationviewofpossiblecremationpit(C�86),fromnorth�

Ballynamona 1-E2428

19


There were three more pits (C.57, C.60 and C.63) found in close proximity to the pit (C.55). On average the pits measured 0.88 m in length, 0.64 m in width and 0.2 m in depth. One pit (C.57) was oval in shape, but it was extremely shallow and was probably heavily truncated. A second pit (C.60) was irregular in shape and its primary fill was a firm mid reddish orange sandy clay (C.62). This evidence of in situ burning indicated that this pit may have been some type of pyre for cremating human remains. The third pit (C.63) contained three fills, two of which had concentrated charcoal deposits within them. This may have been a dump of waste burnt material resulting from the burning of human remains.

Figure7: IllustrationofEarlyBronzeAgeVaseUrn,Vessel2�

0 cm 3 cm

a b c

Figure8: IllustrationofLateNeolithicGroovedWare,Vessel1�


20

Pit type Context Length Width DepthPit with Late Neolithic pottery

55 0.85 0.74 0.1

Pit with Early Bronze Age pottery

86 0.5 0.4 0.12

Pit 57 0.86 0.64 0.08Pit 60 0.9 0.52 0.18Pit 63 0.9 0.78 0.34

Table2:Pitdimensions

Other pitsA total of seven other pits (for example Plates 5, 6 and 7) were found in Area 2 (C.67, C.71, C.72, C.76, C.81, C.91 and C.107). Like the nine pits from Area 1, the fills of all of these pits contained charcoal (see, for example, the charcoal-rich fill in C.91, Plate 8). The fills were relatively similar to the charcoal-filled pits from Area 1 and they may have served similar functions in the past. However, the exact nature of their use is unknown.

Linear featuresA total of two parallel linear features (C.77 and C.80) were discovered in Area 2. The linear feature (C.77) was aligned north to south and measured 1.5 in width and 0.45 in depth (Plate 9). The linear feature (C.80) was located 1.95 m to the west. It was aligned north to south and measured 1.6 m in width and 0.3 in depth. These two liner features represent two parallel field boundaries. These may have been contemporary but were

Plate5: Post-excavationviewofpit(C�72),fromsouth-west�

Ballynamona 1-E2428

21


more likely an initial boundary that was later replaced. The sterile nature of the fills of the three features suggests that they naturally silted up over time and post-dated the intense burning activity that occurred in this area. This indicates that these features are later in date than the other activity at the site and possibly represent modern agricultural activity.

Natural featuresA total of ten natural features were observed across Area 1 and Area 2. In Area 1, six features were observed (C.4, C.31, C.47, C.49, C.50 and C.51). In Area 2 four natural features were found (C.89, C.97, C.101 and C.103). The irregularity in shape, the lack of depth and sterile fills of these features suggests that they are natural in origin, possibly vegetation bowls. Four of the ten natural features contained charcoal within their fills. The charcoal inclusions within their fills are most likely the result of contamination by surrounding burning activity.

CharcoalCharcoal from this site was identified by Mary Dillon in advance of radiocarbon dating. The results indicate that wood species such as hazel (Corylus) and Alder (Alnus) were used at the site.

Plate6: Post-excavationviewofpit(C�76),fromnorth-east�


22

Plate7: Post-excavationviewofpit(C�71)�

Plate8: Partiallyexcavatedviewofpit(C�91),showingcharcoal-richfill,fromnorth�

Ballynamona 1-E2428

23


Plant remainsThe plant remains from this site were examined by Penny Johnston (Appendix 5). Fifteen samples from this site were scanned for plant remains but material was only recovered from five of these: C.64 (S.44), C.73 (S.53), C.87 (S.62), C.88 (S.63) and C.76/C.94 (S.70). All of the plant material was identified as fragments of hazelnut shell fragments and this is not considered a significant assemblage.

PotteryPottery was the only artefact-type retrieved from this site. It was examined by Helen Roche and Eoin Grogan (Appendix 6). The pit (C.86) contained fifteen sherds of Late Neolithic Grooved Ware, all from a single vessel (Vessel 1). This example included some unusual forms of decoration for this type of pottery. There was also carbonised residue on the interior surface of some sherds and this indicates that the vessel was originally used for cooking.

Early Bronze Age pottery was also identified; 66 sherds from a Vase urn (Vessel 2) was identified from another cremation pit (C.55). Once again, carbonised residue is present on the interior surface of this vessel, although Vase urns are not generally seen as cooking vessels.

Plate9: South-eastfacingsectionoflinearfeature(C�77)�


24

The pottery results indicate archaeological activity that is spread from the Late Neo-lithic to the Early Bronze Age, with Grooved Ware usually dated to c. 2900 – 2450 BC and pottery from the Vase Tradition usually dated to c. 1903 – 1830 BC. This suggests a significant gap between the depositions of these separate pottery vessels. The composition of the pottery from this site is similar to that retrieved from the nearby site of Ballyna-carriga 3, where Late Neolithic Grooved Ware and Early Bronze Age vessels in the Vase Tradition were found in much larger quantities.

Radiocarbon datesRadiocarbon analysis was carried out by the 14 Chrono Centre in Queen’s University Belfast. Dates were calibrated using Calib Rev5.0.2 (©1986-2005 M.Stuiver & P.J. Re-imer) and in conjunction with Stuiver & Reimer 1993 and Reimer et al. 2004.

Lab code

Context Material Un-cali-brated date

δ 13 C 2 sigma calibration

1 sigma calibration

Period

UB-12975

C.88 (fill of pit C.86)With Grooved Ware pottery

Hazel/Alder (Corylus/ Alnus) charcoal

4912 +/- 25 -27.0 cal BC 3760-3742 3731-3730 3714-3644

cal BC 3698-3658

Early Neolithic

UB-13173

C.41 (fill of pit C.34 in Area 1)

Hazel (Corylus) charcoal (0.2 g)

3499 +/- 24 -26.2 cal BC 1889-1750

cal BC 1880-1867 1848-1774

Early Bronze Age

Ballynamona 1-E2428

25


9 DiscussionThe archaeological results from Ballynamona 1 indicated that there was some Early Neo-lithic activity in Area 2 (hazel and alder charcoal returned an Early Neolithic radiocarbon date). This is combined with artefactual (ceramic) evidence from Area 2, where Late Neo-lithic and Early Bronze Age pottery types were recovered.

Early Neolithic radiocarbon dates were recovered from numerous sites excavated along the route of the N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown (see Figure 9). These included sites at Ballinglanna North 3, Caherdrinny 3 and Gortore 1b (where typical Early Neolithic houses were excavated), as well as Ballynacarriga 3 (where Early Neolithic dates were obtained from deposits, but were not associated with any definite occupation from this period). The results from Ballynamona 1 fall into a similar category as those obtained from Ballynacarriga 3: the date indicates some form of activity in the Early Neolithic, but the exact nature of this activity is unclear.

The site at Ballynamona 1 contained two pits with prehistoric pottery, dated to the Late Neolithic and the Early Bronze Age. The Late Neolithic pottery from the site, iden-tified as Grooved Ware, is a type that is not necessarily associated with burials, but does appear to have ritualistic connotations. It is often found associated with passage tombs and timber circles (Grogan et al. 2007, 136 – 9). It is also usually associated with high quality material culture (Cooney 2000, 17). However, at Ballynamona 1, although several pits were excavated near the area where Grooved Ware was found, there was no identifi-able pattern in the archaeological features: they do not appear to have formed a circle, or portion of a circle. There was also no evidence for other high status cultural material at this site.

The fact that an Early Neolithic date was returned from charcoal within a pit where Late Neolithic pottery was also found suggests that there was some residual material at the site during Late Neolithic occupation at the site. It is possible that this was from ear-lier occupation, or alternatively that it was simply old wood that was burnt in the Late Neolithic.

Carbonised residue adhered to the interior of the Early Bronze Age Vase urn found at Ballynamona 1 (Appendix 6). This find suggests that at Ballynamona 1 this pot was used for domestic purposes. In fact, the evidence from other pottery vessels from the Vase tra-dition found along the route of the N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown route suggests that this was the norm: carbonised residue was found on the interior surfaces of all three encrusted urns discovered at Ballynacarriga 3 and Glenatlucky, in one vessel the deposits were very thick. Carbonised residue was also found on the interior surfaces of two of the three food vessels found at Ballynacarriga 3. All of these vessels belong to the Early Bronze Age Vase tradition and are usually associated with burials (Waddell 1998, 144 – 5) and at Ballyna-carriga 3 and Glenatlucky they pottery was associated with cremated bone. The absence of cremated bone from Ballynamona 1 and the more domestic nature of the site could suggest that funerary urns were also occasionally used in settlement contexts.

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On the other hand, the absence of cremated bone may simply indicate that these pits were not burials deposits, but ‘blind’ burials or cenotaphs instead (i.e. deposits that con-tained cremation deposit or pyre-like material, but no bone). This was widely identified at Killoran 10, Lisheen, Co. Tipperary and along the route of the gas pipeline to the west (Grogan et al. 2007, 118). In the case of Ballynamona 1 the deposits, although contain-ing some charcoal, did not appear to be pyre material. This suggests that the deposits are not blind burials. However, whether these are formal deposits or the remains of domestic occupation at Ballynamona 1 is unclear. What is clear is the fact that the Early Bronze Age material from Ballynamona 1 is found within a landscape where there is significant evidence for contemporary activity (Figure 10).

The recovery of Early Neolithic radiocarbon dates and both Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age pottery suggests a relatively long-lived phase of occupation/use at Ballyna-mona 1. The pottery evidence also indicates a continuity between the Late Neolithic and the Early Bronze Age. This is common and Early Bronze Age activity often masked Late Neolithic material (Cooney 2000, 17). In total, the Early Neolithic radiocarbon date from Area 1 suggests that it significantly predates the activity from Area 2, where artefactual and radiocarbon dates indicates activity from the Late Neolithic and the Early Bronze Age.

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10 ReferencesBarry, T. (1987) The Archaeology of Medieval Ireland. London, Methuen & Co. Ltd.

Bence-Jones, M. (1996) A Guide to Irish County Houses. London, Constable & Co. Ltd.

Clinton, M. (2001) The Souterrains of Ireland. Bray, Wordwell.

Cooney, G. (2000) Landscapes of Neolithic Ireland. London, Routledge.

Cotter, E., Buckley, K. & Drumm, M. (2006) N8 Fermoy Mitchelstown Phase 1 – final archaeological testing report, unpublished report for licence no. 05E1150.

Cotter, E. (2005) ‘Bronze Age Ballybrowney, Co. Cork’, Recent Archaeological Discoveries on National Road Schemes 2004. National Roads Authority Monograph Series No.2.

Daly, A. and Grogan, E (1992) ‘Excavation of Four Barrows in Mitchelstowndown West, Knocklong, Co. Limerick’, Discovery Programme Reports 1. Dublin, Royal Irish Academy.

Doody, M. (1995) ‘Ballyhoura Hills project’, Discovery Programme Reports 2, 12-44. Dublin, Royal Irish Academy.

Gardiner, M.J. and Radford,T. (1980) Soil Assocaitions of Ireland and Their Land Use Potential. Dublin, An Foras Talúntais.

Gowen, M. (1988) Three Irish Gas pipelines: new archaeological evidence in Munster. Dublin, Wordwell.

Grogan, E., O’Donnell, L. and Johnston, P. (2007) The Bronze Age Landscapes of the Pipeline to the West. Bray, Wordwell.

Lewis, S. (1988) Lewis’ Cork: A Topographical Dictionary of the Parishes, Towns and Villages of Cork City and County. Cork, Collins Press.

Monk, M. (1995) ‘A Tale of Two Ringforts Lisleagh I and II’, Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society Vol.100,.105-116.

Power, D., Lane, S. and Byrne, E., Egan, U., Sleeman, M., with Cotter, E., Monk, J. (2000) Archaeological Inventory of County Cork, Volume 4: North Cork Parts I & II. Dublin, The Stationery Office.


30

Power, B. (1996) From the Danes to Dairygold A History of Mitchelstown. Mount Cashell Books.

Power, B. (2002) Images of Mitchelstown, Stories and pictures from my own place. Mount Cashell Books.

Reimer, P.J., Baillie, M.G.L., Bard, E., Bayliss, A., Beck, J.W., Bertrand, C., Blackwell, P.G., Buck, C.E., Burr, G., Cutler, K.B., Damon, P.E., Edwards, R.L., Fairbanks, R.G., Friedrich, M., Guilderson, T.P., Hughen, K.A., Kromer, B., McCormac, F.G., Manning, S., Bronk Ramsey, C., Reimer, R.W., Remmele, S., Southon, J.R., Stuiver, M., Talamo, S., Taylor, F.W., van der Plicht, J. and Weyhenmeyer, C.E. (2004) ‘IntCal04 Terrestrial Radiocarbon Age Calibration, 0–26 Cal Kyr BP’, Radiocarbon 46, 1029-1058.

Stuiver, M., and Reimer, P.J. (1993) ‘Extended (super 14) C data base and revised CALIB 3.0 (super 14) C age calibration program’, Radiocarbon 35, 215-230.

Sherlock, R. (2003) ‘Killydonoghoe’ Bennett, I. (Ed) Excavations 2001. Bray, Wordwell.

Sleeman, A.G., & McConnell, B. (1995) Geology of East Cork-Waterford. Dublin, Geological Survey of Ireland.

Stout, M. (1997) The Irish Ringfort. Dublin, Four Courts Press.

Waddell, J. (1998) The Prehistoric Archaeology of Ireland. Galway, Galway University Press.

Woodman, P. McCarthy, M. and Monaghan, N.T. (1997) ‘The Irish Quaternary Fauna Project’, Quaternary Science Reviews 16 (2), 129-159.

Woodman, P.C. (1989) ‘The Mesolithic in Munster: a preliminary assessment’, pp. 116 – 124 in Bonsall, C. (ed) The Mesolithic in Europe. Edinburgh, John Donald.

Woodman, P.C. (2000) ‘Hammers and Shoeboxes: New Agendas for Prehistory’., pp. 1 -10 in Desmond, A., Johnson, G., McCarthy, M., Sheehan, J. and Shee Twohig, E. New Agendas in Irish Prehistory. Papers in commemoration of Liz Anderson. Bray, Wordwell.

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31


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Tops

oil

2

Dar

k br

owni

sh si

lty c

lay

of lo

ose c

ompa

ctio

n w

ith o

ccas

iona

l sm

all a

ngul

ar st

ones

.Ex

tent

of t

renc

h cu

t

2N

atur

al

1

C

ompa

ct re

ddish

/yel

low

/ora

nge s

andy

cla

y w

ith a

little

silt.

Con

-ta

inin

g oc

casio

nal s

mal

l and

med

ium

ang

ular

ston

es.

Exte

nt o

f tre

nch

cut

3C

ut

6, 7,

97

2O

val,

flat b

otto

med

pit

with

gra

dual

bre

ak o

f slo

pe a

nd g

entle

sm

ooth

side

s. Fi

lls =

C6,

C7

and

C9.

0.9

x 0.

54 x

0.3

-0.4

4C

ut

5, 8

82

Very

shal

low

irre

gula

r sha

ped

pit.

Mos

t lik

ely to

be a

nat

ural

de

pres

sion

filled

with

tops

oil.

0.7

x 0.

5 x

0.08

5Fi

ll4

1

8U

pper

fill.

Firm

dar

k br

owni

sh b

lack

cla

yey

silt w

ith o

ccas

iona

l su

b-an

gula

r peb

bles

. Also

with

occ

asio

nal f

lecks

and

mod

erat

e sm

all p

iece

s of c

harc

oal.

0.5

x 0.

3 x

0.04

6Fi

ll3

1

9U

pper

fill.

Ver

y so

ft da

rk b

lack

silt

with

freq

uent

cha

rcoa

l flec

ks.

Upp

er fi

ll of

flat

bot

tom

ed p

it C

3.0.

3 x

0.18

x 0

.08

7Fi

ll3

9

3Ve

ry so

ft lig

ht b

row

n cl

ay si

lt w

ith o

ccas

iona

l sm

all s

ub-a

ngul

ar

stone

s and

freq

uent

cha

rcoa

l flec

ks. F

ill o

f C3

(low

er).

Co-

ordi

-na

tes:

A - 9

7.8E

/108

.65N

; B -

97.3

5E/1

07.6

6N.

1.0

x ? X

0.3

8Fi

ll4

5

4Fi

rm li

ght p

inki

sh b

row

n cl

ay si

lt w

ith o

ccas

iona

l cha

rcoa

l fle

cks.

Thi

s is t

he lo

wer

fill

of ir

regu

lar s

hallo

w (0

.08m

) pit.

M

ost l

ikely

a na

tura

l fea

ture

. Co-

ordi

nate

s: A

- 99.

74E/

115.

0N;

B - 9

9.67

E/11

4.0N

.

? X 1

.8 x

1.8

9Fi

ll3

6

7So

ft lig

ht w

hite

sand

y cl

ay. S

mal

l dep

osit

with

in fi

ll C

7 of

pit

C3.

C

o-or

dina

tes:

A - 9

7.8E

/108

.65N

, B -

97.3

5E/1

07.6

6N.

? X 0

.1 x

0.0

8

10C

ut

13, 1

4, 1

5,

16, 1

7, 18

, 19

182

Ova

l/irr

egul

ar p

it co

ntai

ning

seve

n fil

ls. T

he si

des a

re re

lativ

ely

steep

and

smoo

th w

ith a

n irr

egul

ar c

onca

ve b

ase.

From

read

-in

g th

e she

ets r

elat

ing

to th

is fe

atur

e, bu

t not

act

ually

seei

ng th

e fe

atur

e, it

may

be a

root

bol

e as i

t is i

rreg

ular

with

a nu

mbe

r of

lense

s and

a co

uple

of d

epre

ssio

ns. O

ne su

gges

ted

as a

stake

hole

filled

by

C14

, thi

s may

be a

resu

lt of

root

act

ion.

Co-

ordi

nate

s: A

- 98

.95E

/108

.8N

; B -

98.7

6E/1

07.6

5N.

1.1

x 0.

6 x

0.4


32

Con

text

#C

onte

xt T

ype

Fill

ofFi

lled

wit

h St

rat a

bove

Stra

t bel

owSh

ort D

escr

ipti

onD

imen

sion

s (m

) 11

Cut

12

, 20

122

A la

rge i

rreg

ular

shap

ed sh

allo

w p

it w

ith c

onca

ve si

des a

nd a

n ir-

regu

lar b

ase.

Thi

s pit

appe

ars n

atur

al, h

owev

er a

poss

ible

post

hole

is lo

cate

d to

war

ds th

e S. T

he fi

lls c

onta

in sm

all c

harc

oal f

lecks

, ho

wev

er th

e fea

ture

still

app

ears

nat

ural

in st

ruct

ure.

Co-

ordi

-na

tes:

A - 9

9.36

E/11

6.55

N; 9

9.75

E/11

5.49

N.

1.3

x 1.

05 x

0.2

5

12Fi

ll11

20

11C

ompa

ct li

ght y

ello

w b

row

n sil

ty c

lay

with

mod

erat

e flec

ks

and

smal

l pie

ces o

f cha

rcoa

l. T

his w

as th

e fill

of t

he p

ossib

le po

stho

le sit

uate

d at

the S

edge

of p

t C11

. Co-

ordi

nate

s: A

- 99

.36E

/116

.55N

; 99.

75E/

115.

49N

.

0.6

x 0.

4 x

0.25

13Fi

ll10

1

15Ve

ry so

ft da

rk b

lack

cla

y w

ith fr

eque

nt sm

all c

harc

oal p

iece

s. T

his i

s the

upp

erm

ost f

ill o

f irr

egul

ar p

it C

10. C

o-or

dina

tes:

A -

98.9

5E/1

08.8

N; B

- 98

.76E

/107

.65N

.

0.5

x 0.

45 x

0.0

6

14Fi

ll10

17

16, 1

9Ve

ry so

ft m

id p

inki

sh b

row

n cl

ayey

silt

with

freq

uent

cha

rcoa

l fle

cks.

Thi

s was

filli

ng w

hat a

ppea

red

to b

e a sm

all s

take

hole

at

the W

of t

he la

rger

cut

C10

. It m

ay a

lso b

e roo

t act

ion.

Co-

ordi

-na

tes:

A - 9

8.95

E/10

8.8N

; B -

98.7

6E/1

07.6

5N.

? X 0

.4 X

0.14

15Fi

ll10

13

17So

ft m

id y

ello

w sa

ndy

clay

with

occ

asio

nal f

lecks

of c

harc

oal.

One

of s

even

fills

of p

it C

10. C

o-or

dina

tes:

A - 9

8.95

E/10

8.8N

; B

- 98.

76E/

107.6

5N.

? X 0

.2 X

0.1

16Fi

ll10

14

18So

ft m

id y

ello

w b

row

n cl

ayey

silt

with

mod

erat

e cha

rcoa

l flec

ks.

One

of s

even

fills

of p

it (tr

ee b

ole)

C10

. Co-

ordi

nate

s: A

- 98

.95E

/108

.8N

; B -

98.7

6E/1

07.6

5N.

? X 0

.3 X

0.0

8

17Fi

ll10

15

14Fi

rm li

ght y

ello

wish

whi

te sa

ndy

clay

. No

char

coal

. A th

in

lens m

akin

g on

e of s

even

fills

in p

it C

10. C

o-or

dina

tes:

A -

98.9

5E/1

08.8

N; B

- 98

.76E

/107

.65N

.

? X 0

.11 x

0.0

2

18Fi

ll10

16

, 19

10Fi

rm li

ght w

hite

sand

y cl

ay, b

asal

fill

of p

it C

10. C

o-or

dina

tes:

A -

98.9

5E/1

08.8

N; B

- 98

.76E

/107

.65N

. ? X

0.1

2 X

0.07

19Fi

ll10

14

18Fi

rm li

ght y

ello

w sa

ndy

clay

, sid

e/ba

sal f

ill o

f C10

. Thi

s fill

is

situa

ted

alon

g th

e N ed

ge o

f the

cut

, sug

gest

ing

the f

ill sl

umpe

d in

from

the s

ide,

poss

ibly

soon

afte

r the

cut

was

ope

ned.

Thi

s fill

is

steril

e fro

m a

ny o

rgan

ic m

ater

ial a

nd m

ay b

e the

orig

inal

soil

extr

acte

d fro

m th

e pit,

or c

avity

whe

re th

e loo

sene

d na

tura

l soi

l re

-fille

d. C

o-or

dina

tes:

A - 9

8.95

E/10

8.8N

; B -

98.7

6E/1

07.6

5N.

? X 0

.1 x

0.2

3

Ballynamona 1-E2428

33


Con

text

#C

onte

xt T

ype

Fill

ofFi

lled

wit

h St

rat a

bove

Stra

t bel

owSh

ort D

escr

ipti

onD

imen

sion

s (m

) 20

Fill

11

112

Firm

mid

bro

wn

silty

cla

y w

ith m

oder

ate s

mal

l sub

-ang

ular

sto

nes a

nd o

ccas

iona

l sm

all p

iece

s and

smal

l cha

rcoa

l flec

ks. T

his

is a m

ixed

fill

of to

psoi

l and

nat

ural

soils

. Thi

s fea

ture

wou

ld

be o

f a n

atur

al o

rigin

, a n

atur

al d

epre

ssio

n. C

o-or

dina

tes:

A -

99.3

6E/1

16.5

5N; B

- 99

.75E

/115

.49N

.

0.7

x 0.

5 x

0.08

21C

ut

22, 2

323

2A

shal

low

circ

ular

feat

ure w

ith a

sub-

circ

ular

bas

e. A

ll sid

es

wer

e mod

erat

ely sl

oped

. Thi

s fea

ture

may

be m

oder

n du

e to

the

barb

ed w

ire fo

und

in th

e upp

er fi

ll C

22. T

here

is n

o cle

ar re

latio

n be

twee

n th

e oth

er fe

atur

es. C

o-or

dina

tes:

A - 9

2.86

E/11

6.95

N;

B - 9

2.85

E/11

6.23

N.

0.6

x 0.

6 x

0.14

22Fi

ll21

1

23Lo

ose m

id b

row

n sa

nd c

lay

with

occ

asio

nal s

mal

l cha

rcoa

l pi

eces

. Thi

s is t

he u

pper

fill

of a

mos

t lik

ely m

oder

n fe

atur

e du

e to

the b

arbe

d w

ire fo

und

with

in th

is fil

l. T

his f

ill is

one

of

two,

but

is th

e mai

n fil

l. C

o-or

dina

tes:

A - 9

2.86

E/11

6.95

N; B

- 9

2.85

E/11

6.23

N.

0.57

x 0

.59

x 0.

14

23Fi

ll21

22

2Fi

rm d

ark

blac

k sil

ty c

lay

with

occ

asio

nal c

oars

e sub

-ang

ular

pe

bble

s. It

cont

aine

d fre

quen

t sm

all p

iece

s and

flec

ks o

f cha

rcoa

l. T

his i

s the

bas

al fi

ll of

C21

. The

peb

bles

wer

e hea

t-affe

cted

. Co-

ordi

nate

s: A

- 92.

86E/

116.

95N

; B -

92.8

5E/1

16.2

3N.

0.28

x 0

.25

x 0.

03

24C

ut

25, 2

626

2O

val s

hape

d sh

allo

w fe

atur

e with

roun

ded

corn

ers a

nd m

oder

ately

slo

ped

conc

ave s

ides

. The

bas

e was

ova

l with

a ta

pere

d bl

unt p

oint

. T

his c

ut c

onta

ined

two

fills,

the l

ower

fill

with

mod

erat

e cha

rcoa

l. D

ue to

the s

hallo

w a

nd sl

ight

ly ir

regu

lar n

atur

e of t

his f

eatu

re, i

t m

ay b

e a n

atur

al d

epre

ssio

n ba

ckfil

led b

y su

rrou

ndin

g m

ater

ial.

Co-

ordi

nate

s: A

- 102

.10E

/116

.79N

; B -

102.

15E/

117.7

8N.

0.6

x 0.

4 x

0.16

25Fi

ll24

1

26Fi

rm m

id b

row

n sil

ty c

lay

with

a cle

ar b

ound

ary

to n

ext f

ill/

laye

r. T

his i

s the

upp

er fi

ll of

pit

C24

and

app

ears

sim

ilar t

o th

e sur

roun

ding

subs

oil.

Co-

ordi

nate

s: A

- 102

.10E

/116

.79N

; B

- 102

.15E/

117.7

8N.

0.6

x 0.

4 x

0.16

26Fi

ll24

25

24Fi

rm d

ark

brow

n sil

ty c

lay

with

mod

erat

e sm

all p

iece

s and

flec

ks

of c

harc

oal.

Thi

s is t

he b

asal

fill

of o

val f

eatu

re C

24. T

his f

ill is

sim

ilar t

o th

e upp

er fi

ll C

25, j

ust h

as a

rela

tively

hig

h %

of c

har-

coal

. Co-

ordi

nate

s: A

- 102

.10E

/116

.79N

; B -

102.

15E/

117.7

8N.

0.6

x 0.

4 x

0.08

27C

ut

28, 2

929

2T

his f

eatu

re is

circ

ular

in p

lan

with

mod

erat

ely sl

oped

con

-ca

ve si

des a

nd a

conc

ave b

ase.

The

bre

ak o

f slo

pe o

n to

p is

shar

p. T

his i

s a sm

all p

it. C

o-or

dina

tes:

A - 9

0.85

E/11

5.30

N; B

- 9

0.68

E/11

4.59

N.

0.56

x 0

.56

x 0.

21


34

Con

text

#C

onte

xt T

ype

Fill

ofFi

lled

wit

h St

rat a

bove

Stra

t bel

owSh

ort D

escr

ipti

onD

imen

sion

s (m

) 28

Fill

27

129

Com

pact

mid

gre

y br

own

silty

sand

with

mod

erat

e coa

rse a

nd m

e-di

um su

b-an

gula

r and

sub-

roun

ded

pebb

les.

Mod

erat

e med

ium

an

d sm

all s

ub-a

ngul

ar a

nd su

b-ro

unde

d sto

nes w

ere a

lso w

ithin

th

e fill

. It c

onta

ined

mod

erat

e sm

all p

iece

s and

flec

ks o

f cha

rcoa

l. C

o-or

dina

tes:

A - 9

0.85

E/11

5.30

N; B

- 90

.68E

/114

.59N

.

0.56

x 0

.56

x 0.

16

29Fi

ll27

28

27So

ft da

rk b

lack

sand

y sil

t with

mod

erat

e sub

-ang

ular

and

sub-

roun

ded

pebb

les.

Thi

s is t

he b

asal

fill

of C

27. I

t also

con

tain

ed

frequ

ent c

harc

oal f

lecks

. Thi

s is a

ver

y th

in le

ns. C

o-or

dina

tes:

A - 9

0.85

E/11

5.30

N; B

- 90

.68E

/114

.59N

.

0.5

x 0.

5 x

0.05

30

VO

ID

31C

ut

3232

2A

n irr

egul

ar sh

aped

feat

ure w

ith g

entle

to st

eep

conc

ave s

ides

an

d an

irre

gula

r blu

nt p

oint

bas

e. T

he n

atur

e and

irre

gula

rity

of th

is fe

atur

e wou

ld su

gges

t it i

s a ro

ot b

ole.

Co-

ordi

nate

s: A

- 10

0.68

E/11

6.34

N; B

- 10

0.34

E/11

9.10

N.

2.8

x 1.

5 x

0.3

32Fi

ll31

1

31Fi

rm li

ght o

rang

e bro

wn

silty

cla

y w

ith m

oder

ate s

mal

l cha

rcoa

l pi

eces

and

occ

asio

nal c

harc

oal f

lecks

. Thi

s fill

is si

mila

r to

the

surr

ound

ing

natu

ral s

ubso

il ot

her t

han

the c

harc

oal c

onte

nt.

Thi

s is m

ost l

ikely

the f

ill o

f a tr

ee b

ole.

Co-

ordi

nate

s: A

- 10

0.68

E/11

6.34

N; B

- 10

0.34

E/11

9.10

N.

2.8

x 1.

5 x

0.3

33

VO

ID

34C

ut

4141

2T

his i

s a su

b-re

ctan

gula

r fea

ture

with

gen

tle sl

opin

g sid

es a

nd a

n irr

egul

ar fl

at b

ase.

Thi

s may

be a

natu

ral d

epre

ssio

n du

e to

it be

ing

so sh

allo

w. T

he fi

ll C

41 h

as o

ccas

iona

l cha

rcoa

l flec

ks. C

o-or

di-

nate

s: A

- 100

.29E

/105

.87N

; B -

100.

86E/

106.

52N

.

0.46

x 0

.3 x

0.18

35C

ut

3636

2A

sub-

circ

ular

feat

ure w

ith st

eep

smoo

th si

des a

nd a

sub-

circ

ular

co

ncav

e bas

e. T

his i

s pos

sibly

a po

stho

le. C

o-or

dina

tes:

A -

97.14

E/12

0.13

N; B

- 97

.51E/

120.

15N

.

0.4

x 0.

25 x

0.18

36Fi

ll35

1

35Fi

rm m

id y

ello

w b

row

n sil

ty c

lay

with

occ

asio

nal s

mal

l pie

ces

of c

harc

oal a

nd m

oder

ate c

harc

oal f

lecks

. Thi

s is a

sing

le fil

l of

a po

ssib

le po

stho

le. T

his f

eatu

re is

in c

lose

pro

xim

ity to

two

othe

r fea

ture

s C39

and

C37

with

sim

ilar f

ills.

Co-

ordi

nate

s: A

- 97

.14E/

120.

13N

; B -

97.51

E/12

0.15

N.

0.4

x 0.

25 x

0.18

Ballynamona 1-E2428

35


Con

text

#C

onte

xt T

ype

Fill

ofFi

lled

wit

h St

rat a

bove

Stra

t bel

owSh

ort D

escr

ipti

onD

imen

sion

s (m

) 37

Cut

38

3840

A su

b-ci

rcul

ar fe

atur

e with

mai

nly

vert

ical

smoo

th si

des a

nd

a sub

-circ

ular

flat

bas

e. T

his m

ay b

e the

bas

e of a

pos

thol

e,

whi

ch h

as b

een

trun

cate

d by

C39

. It i

s situ

ated

at th

e SW

edge

of

larg

e fea

ture

C39

. Co-

ordi

nate

s: A

- 97.4

6E/1

20.0

8N; B

- 9

7.82

E/12

0.02

.

0.24

x 0

.2 x

0.0

8

38Fi

ll37

1

37Fi

rm m

id y

ello

w b

row

n sil

ty c

lay

with

occ

asio

nal s

mal

l cha

rcoa

l pi

eces

and

mod

erat

e cha

rcoa

l flec

ks. S

ingl

e fill

of p

ossib

le po

stho

le C

37, o

r rem

ains

of o

ne a

s it i

s ver

y sh

allo

w at

onl

y 0.

08m

. Co-

ordi

nate

s: A

- 97.4

6E/1

20.0

8N; B

- 97

.82E

/120

.02.

0.24

x 0

.2 x

0.0

8

39C

ut

4040

2A

n irr

egul

ar sh

aped

feat

ure w

ith b

oth

steep

and

slop

ing

sides

an

d an

irre

gula

r con

cave

bas

e. T

his f

eatu

re h

as th

e pos

sible

rem

ains

of a

pos

thol

e C37

at it

s WSW

edge

. Co-

ordi

nate

s: A

- 97

.61E

/120

.18N

; B -

98.8

9E/1

19.8

6N.

1.4

x 1.

1 x

0.24

40Fi

ll39

37

39Fi

rm m

id y

ello

w b

row

n sil

ty c

lay

with

occ

asio

nal s

ub-a

ngul

ar

stone

s. It

also

con

tain

ed m

oder

ate s

mal

l cha

rcoa

l pie

ces a

nd

occa

siona

l cha

rcoa

l flec

ks. T

his i

s the

sing

le fil

l of f

eatu

re C

39.

Co-

ordi

nate

s: A

- 97.6

1E/1

20.18

N; B

- 98

.89E

/119

.86N

.

1.4

x 1.

1 x

0.24

41Fi

ll34

1

34Ve

ry so

ft m

id b

row

n sa

ndy

clay

with

occ

asio

nal s

mal

l cha

rcoa

l pi

eces

and

cha

rcoa

l flec

ks. T

his i

s a si

ngle

fill o

f a sm

all s

hallo

w

sub-

rect

angu

lar p

it. T

his f

ill m

ay b

e res

idue

from

ano

ther

sour

ce

plou

ghed

into

a sh

allo

w, p

ossib

ly n

atur

al d

epre

ssio

n. C

o-or

di-

nate

s: A

- 100

.29E

/105

.87N

; B -

100.

86E/

106.

52N

.

0.36

x 0

.64

x 0.

18

42C

ut

43

, 44

442

Thi

s is a

sub-

rect

angu

lar,

mos

tly st

eep-

sided

shal

low

pit

with

an

irre

gula

r con

cave

bas

e. T

his p

it co

ntai

ned

two

fills

C43

and

C

44. O

ccas

iona

l cha

rcoa

l flec

ks fo

und

in th

e upp

er fi

ll C

43. T

he

basa

l fill

, C44

, is a

lmos

t nat

ural

sugg

estin

g it

may

be a

nat

ural

de

pres

sion

filled

with

con

tam

inat

ed so

il. S

imila

r to

feat

ure C

34.

Co-

ordi

nate

s: A

- 98.

25E/

106.

84N

; B -

98.7

4E/1

07.5

8N.

0.44

x 0

.4 x

0.18

43Fi

ll42

1

44So

ft m

id p

inki

sh re

d sa

ndy

clay

with

occ

asio

nal c

harc

oal

fleck

s. T

his i

s the

seco

ndar

y fil

l of p

it C

42. C

o-or

dina

tes:

A -

98.2

5E/1

06.8

4N; B

- 98

.74E

/107

.58N

.

0.40

x 0

.32

x 0.

1

44Fi

ll42

43

42Ve

ry so

ft m

id y

ello

w b

row

n sa

ndy

clay

. No

char

coal

. Thi

s is t

he

basa

l fill

of s

hallo

w p

it C

42. T

his f

ill is

ver

y sim

ilar t

o th

e sur

-ro

undi

ng n

atur

al so

il, su

gges

ting

that

this

may

, as w

ith fe

atur

e C

34, b

e a n

atur

al d

epre

ssio

n fil

led b

y co

ntam

inat

ed so

il. C

o-or

dina

tes:

A - 9

8.25

E/10

6.84

N; B

- 98

.74E

/107

.58N

.

? X 0

.24

X 0.

16


36

Con

text

#C

onte

xt T

ype

Fill

ofFi

lled

wit

h St

rat a

bove

Stra

t bel

owSh

ort D

escr

ipti

onD

imen

sion

s (m

) 45

Cut

46

462

Thi

s is l

inea

r in

plan

, the

SE

side g

ently

slop

ing

with

a ste

pped

sh

ape;

the N

W si

de is

mod

erat

ely sl

oped

with

a sm

ooth

shap

e.

The

bas

e is s

ub-re

ctan

gula

r and

flat

. Thi

s may

be a

dra

inag

e di

tch

whi

ch h

as b

een

silte

d up

, C46

, see

fill.

Co-

ordi

nate

s: A

- 95

.00E

/127

.38N

; B -

94.0

0E/1

28.0

0N.

19.8

8 x

0.84

x 0

.2

46Fi

ll45

1

45Ve

ry so

ft m

id y

ello

w b

row

n cl

ayey

sand

with

mod

erat

e fin

e sub

-an

gula

r peb

bles

. Org

anic

ally

ster

ile fi

ll, p

ossib

ly si

lted

up d

rain

age

ditc

h. C

o-or

dina

tes:

A - 9

5.00

E/12

7.38N

; B -

94.0

0E/1

28.0

0N.

19.8

8 x

0.84

x 0

.2

47C

ut

48

1

Irre

gula

r rou

nd c

orne

red

feat

ure w

ith m

oder

ately

slop

ed c

onca

ve

sides

. It h

ad a

n irr

egul

ar c

onca

ve b

ase.

Thi

s fea

ture

was

mos

t lik

e-ly

to b

e a n

atur

al d

epre

ssio

n. C

o-or

dina

tes:

A - 1

00.3

8E/1

21.3

0N;

B - 1

01.1

2E/1

20.4

2N.

0.86

x 0

.42

x 0.

14

48Fi

ll47

1

47C

ompa

ct m

id g

rey

brow

n cl

ayey

sand

. Thi

s fill

is o

rgan

ical

ly

steril

e and

wou

ld a

ppea

r to

be a

form

of s

ubso

il/to

psoi

l red

e-po

sited

in a

natu

rally

occ

urrin

g de

pres

sion.

Co-

ordi

nate

s: A

- 10

0.38

E/12

1.30

N; B

- 10

1.12

E/12

0.42

N.

0.86

x 0

.42

x 0.

14

49C

ut

5252

2A

circ

ular

/ova

l sha

llow

feat

ure w

ith g

ently

slop

ing

smoo

th si

des

and

a circ

ular

con

cave

bas

e. T

his i

s mos

t lik

ely to

be a

nat

ural

de

pres

sion.

0.48

x 0

.3 x

0.1

50C

ut

5353

2O

val i

n pl

an w

ith sm

ooth

, ge

ntle

slopi

ng si

des a

nd a

flat b

ase.

T

his i

s mos

t lik

ely to

be a

nat

ural

dep

ress

ion.

0.

6 x

0.3

x 0.

08

51C

ut

5454

2O

val i

n pl

an w

ith sm

ooth

, ge

ntle

slopi

ng si

des a

nd a

circ

ular

flat

ba

se. T

his i

s mos

t lik

ely to

be a

nat

ural

dep

ress

ion.

0.

38 x

0.2

x 0

.08

52Fi

ll49

1

49C

ompa

ct d

ark

brow

n cl

ayey

sand

with

occ

asio

nal f

ine s

ub-ro

und-

ed p

ebbl

es a

nd o

ccas

iona

l cha

rcoa

l flec

ks. T

his a

ppea

r to

be a

co

ntam

inat

ed fi

ll of

a na

tura

l dep

ress

ion.

0.36

x 0

.3 x

0.0

8

53Fi

ll50

1

50C

ompa

ct m

id y

ello

w b

row

n cl

ayey

sand

with

occ

asio

nal f

ine s

ub-

roun

ded

pebb

les a

nd o

ccas

iona

l cha

rcoa

l flec

ks. T

his a

ppea

rs to

be

a co

ntam

inat

ed fi

ll of

a na

tura

l dep

ress

ion.

0.7

x 0.

4 x

0.08

54Fi

ll51

1

51C

ompa

ct d

ark

brow

n cl

ayey

sand

with

occ

asio

nal f

ine s

ub-ro

und-

ed p

ebbl

es a

nd o

ccas

iona

l cha

rcoa

l flec

ks. T

his a

ppea

r to

be a

co

ntam

inat

ed fi

ll of

a na

tura

l dep

ress

ion.

0.4

x 0.

37 x

0.0

8

55C

ut

5656

2A

n ov

al sh

allo

w p

it w

ith b

oth

steep

and

gen

tle c

onca

ve si

des w

ith

an o

val s

light

ly c

onca

ve b

ase.

With

the l

arge

num

ber o

f pot

tery

sh

erds

this

may

be a

hea

vily

trun

cate

d cr

emat

ion

pit.

Soil

anal

ysis

will

aid

our

inte

rpre

tatio

n if

bone

/seed

/food

resid

ue is

disc

over

ed.

0.85

x 0

.74

x 0.

1

Ballynamona 1-E2428

37


Con

text

#C

onte

xt T

ype

Fill

ofFi

lled

wit

h St

rat a

bove

Stra

t bel

owSh

ort D

escr

ipti

onD

imen

sion

s (m

) 56

Fill

55

155

Firm

mid

gre

y bl

ack

sand

y cl

ay w

ith m

oder

ate s

mal

l ang

ular

sto

nes a

nd fr

eque

nt c

harc

oal f

lecks

/pie

ces r

angi

ng fr

om sm

all t

o m

ediu

m. A

lso m

any

potte

ry sh

erds

. Soi

l ana

lysis

will

aid

with

in

terp

reta

tion

and

hope

fully

pro

duce

pos

sible

bone

, see

d or

oth

er

resid

ues.

0.85

x 0

.74

x 0.

1

57C

ut

58, 5

958

2Ir

regu

lar/o

val i

n pl

an w

ith sm

ooth

, gen

tly sl

opin

g sid

es a

nd a

n irr

egul

ar fl

at/ta

pere

d po

inte

d ba

se. T

his i

s a v

ery

shal

low,

but

larg

e fe

atur

e whi

ch h

as b

een

heav

ily tr

unca

ted,

as p

otte

ry w

as fo

und

in

the b

asal

fill

C58

.

0.86

x 0

.64

x 0.

08

58Fi

ll57

59

57C

ompa

ct m

id b

row

n gr

ey c

laye

y sa

nd w

ith o

ccas

iona

l sm

all a

n-gu

lar s

tone

s and

mod

erat

e cha

rcoa

l flec

ks. O

ne p

otte

ry sh

erd

was

id

entif

ied

in th

is fil

l.

0.86

x 0

.64

x 0.

03

59Fi

ll57

1

58C

ompa

ct d

ark

blac

k cl

ayey

sand

with

mod

erat

e med

ium

cha

rcoa

l pi

eces

. Thi

s is o

ne o

f tw

o fil

ls in

pit

C57

. The

upp

er fi

ll.

0.26

x 0

.22

x 0.

07

60C

ut

61, 6

262

Ir

regu

lar i

n pl

an sh

allo

w p

it w

ith m

oder

ately

to st

eep

slope

d co

n-ca

ve si

des a

nd a

n irr

egul

ar c

onca

ve b

ase.

Thi

s fea

ture

may

be t

wo

conj

oine

d pi

ts.

0.9

x 0.

52 x

0.18

61Fi

ll60

1

62C

ompa

ct m

id b

lack

silty

sand

with

occ

asio

nal s

mal

l ang

ular

sto

nes.

Thi

s was

the u

pper

fill

of tw

o w

ithin

a la

rge i

rreg

ular

pit.

0.

4 x

0.27

x 0

.17

62Fi

ll60

61

60Fi

rm m

id re

ddish

ora

nge s

andy

cla

y w

ith o

ccas

iona

l sm

all a

ngul

ar

stone

s. Ba

sal f

ill o

f irr

egul

ar sh

aped

shal

low

pit.

0.

8 x

0.54

x 0

.2

63C

ut

64, 6

5, 6

666

2O

val i

n pl

an w

ith st

eep

conc

ave s

ides

and

a ci

rcul

ar c

onca

ve b

ase.

T

his p

it co

ntai

ned

thre

e fill

s. 0.

9 x

0.78

x 0

.34

64Fi

ll63

1

65C

ompa

ct m

id g

rey

silty

sand

y cl

ay w

ith o

ccas

iona

l sm

all a

ngul

ar

stone

s and

freq

uent

med

ium

cha

rcoa

l pie

ces.

Thi

s is t

he u

pper

fill

of p

it C

63.

0.26

x 0

.17 x

0.0

6

65Fi

ll63

64

66Fi

rm m

id y

ello

w b

row

n sa

ndy

clay

with

occ

asio

nal s

mal

l ang

ular

sto

nes.

Thi

s is a

seco

ndar

y fil

l in

pit C

63.

0.6

x 0.

45 x

0.18

66Fi

ll63

65

63Fi

rm m

id b

row

n gr

ey sa

ndy

clay

with

occ

asio

nal s

mal

l and

me-

dium

ang

ular

ston

es. I

t also

con

tain

ed fr

eque

nt m

ediu

m a

nd la

rge

char

coal

pie

ces.

Thi

s is t

he p

rimar

y fil

l of C

63.

0.6

x 0.

5 x

0.3

67C

ut

68, 6

969

2O

val,

smoo

th g

entle

slop

ing

sides

with

an

oval

flat

bas

e. T

his i

s a

very

shal

low

feat

ure s

ituat

ed n

ear o

ther

smal

l fea

ture

s. 1.

34 x

0.9

4 x

0.18


38

Con

text

#C

onte

xt T

ype

Fill

ofFi

lled

wit

h St

rat a

bove

Stra

t bel

owSh

ort D

escr

ipti

onD

imen

sion

s (m

) 68

Fill

67

169

Com

pact

dar

k re

ddish

bro

wn

clay

ey sa

nd w

ith m

oder

ate m

ediu

m

sub-

angu

lar p

ebbl

es a

nd m

oder

ate c

harc

oal f

lecks

. A th

in le

ns o

f ch

arco

al li

es w

ithin

this

fill.

1.0

x 0.

85 x

0.18

69Fi

ll67

68

67C

ompa

ct m

id b

row

n ye

llow

cla

yey

sand

with

occ

asio

nal m

ediu

m

sub-

angu

lar p

ebbl

es a

nd o

ccas

iona

l cha

rcoa

l flec

ks. T

his i

s a sm

all

fill a

t the

E si

de o

f the

feat

ure.

Thi

s fill

is si

mila

r to

the s

urro

und-

ing

natu

ral a

nd m

ay h

ave g

ot c

onta

min

ated

by

othe

r fill

s.

0.18

x ?

X 0.

16

70

VO

ID

71C

ut

73, 7

474

2O

val i

n pl

an sh

allo

w fe

atur

e with

gen

tle sl

opin

g sid

es a

nd a

n ir-

regu

lar f

lat b

ase.

Thi

s con

tain

ed tw

o fil

ls.

0.8

x 0.

6 x

0.2

72C

ut

7575

2Su

b-re

ctan

gula

r sha

llow

pit

with

stee

p, sm

ooth

side

s and

an

ir-re

gula

r fla

t bas

e.

0.64

x 0

.54

x 0.

23

73Fi

ll71

, 107

1

74C

ompa

ct d

ark

brow

n bl

ack

clay

ey sa

nd w

ith o

ccas

iona

l coa

rse

angu

lar p

ebbl

es, a

nd fr

eque

nt c

harc

oal f

lecks

. Thi

s is t

he se

cond

-ar

y fil

l of t

wo

fills

with

in C

71.

0.8

x 0.

6 x

0.08

74Fi

ll71

73

71Ve

ry so

ft m

id y

ello

w b

row

n sa

ndy

clay

with

occ

asio

nal s

mal

l su

b-an

gula

r sto

nes a

nd fr

eque

nt c

oars

e sub

-ang

ular

ston

es. I

t also

co

ntai

ns m

oder

ate c

harc

oal f

lecks

.

? X 0

.58

X 0.

12

75Fi

ll72

1

72C

ompa

ct d

ark

grey

ish b

row

n cl

ayey

sand

with

freq

uent

coa

rse a

nd

occa

siona

l med

ium

sub-

angu

lar p

ebbl

es. I

t also

con

tain

s occ

a-sio

nal c

harc

oal f

lecks

.

0.63

x 0

.54

x 0.

14

76C

ut

93, 9

494

2O

val s

moo

th st

eep

slope

d sid

ed fe

atur

e with

a su

b-ci

rcul

ar fl

at

base

.1.

21 X

0.7

6 X

0.58

77C

ut

78, 9

5, 9

695

, 100

2Li

near

feat

ure w

ith m

oder

ate s

lopi

ng c

onca

ve si

des a

nd a

conc

ave

base

. 20

.0 x

1.5

x 0

.45

78Fi

ll77

1

96C

ompa

ct m

id b

row

nish

gre

y sil

ty c

lay

with

mod

erat

e coa

rse

sub-

angu

lar a

nd su

b-ro

unde

d pe

bble

s. A

lso o

ccas

iona

l sm

all,

sub-

angu

lar a

nd su

b-ro

unde

d sm

all s

tone

s. U

pper

fill

of m

oder

n bo

unda

ry d

itch.

20.0

x 1

.5 x

0.4

5

79

VO

ID

80C

ut

8484

2Li

near

feat

ure w

ith g

ently

slop

ing

conc

ave s

ides

and

a co

ncav

e ba

se. T

his l

inea

r fea

ture

is ru

nnin

g pa

ralle

l to

C77

. The

y ar

e situ

-at

ed 1

.84m

apa

rt.

17.0

x 1

.6 x

0.3

81C

ut

82, 8

383

2O

val s

hallo

w p

it w

ith sm

ooth

mod

erat

ely sl

oped

side

s and

a fla

t ba

se.

0.66

x 0

.48

x 0.

22

Ballynamona 1-E2428

39


Con

text

#C

onte

xt T

ype

Fill

ofFi

lled

wit

h St

rat a

bove

Stra

t bel

owSh

ort D

escr

ipti

onD

imen

sion

s (m

) 82

Fill

81

183

Very

soft

dark

bro

wn

clay

ey si

lt w

ith o

ccas

iona

l sm

all s

ub-a

ngul

ar

stone

s and

occ

asio

nal c

harc

oal f

lecks

. 0.

66 x

0.4

8 x

0.22

83Fi

ll81

82

81Ve

ry so

ft m

id y

ello

w b

row

n sa

ndy

clay

with

occ

asio

nal c

oars

e sub

-an

gula

r peb

bles

and

occ

asio

nal s

mal

l sub

-ang

ular

ston

es. I

t also

co

ntai

ned

occa

siona

l cha

rcoa

l flec

ks. T

his i

s the

low

er fi

ll of

two

with

in th

is fe

atur

e.

? X 0

.5 X

0.14

84Fi

ll80

1

80C

ompa

ct m

id b

row

nish

gre

y sil

ty sa

nd w

ith m

oder

ate c

oars

e su

b-an

gula

r and

sub-

roun

ded

pebb

les.

Thi

s is t

he fi

ll of

bou

ndar

y di

tch

C80

.

17.0

x 1

.6 x

0.3

85

VO

ID

86C

ut

87, 8

888

2Su

b-ci

rcul

ar sh

allo

w fe

atur

e with

gen

tly sl

opin

g co

ncav

e sid

es a

nd

a con

cave

bas

e.

0.5

x 0.

4 x

0.12

87Fi

ll86

1

88C

ompa

ct d

ark

brow

n sil

ty sa

nd w

ith o

ccas

iona

l med

ium

size

d su

b-an

gula

r peb

bles

and

occ

asio

nal c

harc

oal f

lecks

. Thi

s is t

he

low

er fi

ll of

two

with

in p

it C

86.

0.5

x 0.

4 x

0.05

88Fi

ll86

87

86C

ompa

ct m

id y

ello

w b

row

n cl

ayey

sand

with

occ

asio

nal m

ediu

m

sub-

angu

lar a

nd su

b-ro

unde

d pe

bble

s and

smal

l cha

rcoa

l pie

ces.

0.4

x 0.

35 x

0.0

7

89C

ut

9999

2Ir

regu

lar i

n pl

an w

ith g

ently

slop

ed ir

regu

lar s

ides

and

an

irreg

ular

co

ncav

e bas

e.

2.6

x 2.

0 x

0.27

90

VO

ID

91C

ut

9292

2C

ircul

ar g

ently

slop

ed, s

moo

th si

ded,

with

a su

b-re

ctan

gula

r con

-ca

ve b

ase.

Thi

s pit

has o

nly

one f

ill C

92. T

his m

ay b

e a n

atur

al

hollo

w/d

epre

ssio

n.

0.38

x 0

.3 x

0.17

92Fi

ll91

1

91C

ompa

ct m

id b

row

n cl

ayey

sand

with

mod

erat

e med

ium

sub-

an-

gula

r peb

bles

and

occ

asio

nal c

harc

oal f

lecks

. Thi

s is t

he si

ngle

fill

of a

shal

low

smal

l pit

C91

. Thi

s may

be a

con

tam

inat

ed fi

ll w

ithin

a p

ossib

le na

tura

l hol

low.

0.42

x 0

.32

x 0.

17

93Fi

ll76

1

94Ve

ry so

ft da

rk b

row

n sto

ny sa

ndy

clay

. It c

onta

ined

occ

asio

nal m

e-di

um si

zed

sub-

angu

lar s

tone

s and

freq

uent

coa

rse s

ub-ro

unde

d pe

bble

s. It

also

had

occ

asio

nal c

harc

oal f

lecks

. Thi

s was

the u

pper

fil

l of p

it C

76.

1.13

x 0

.7 x

0.5

8


40

Con

text

#C

onte

xt T

ype

Fill

ofFi

lled

wit

h St

rat a

bove

Stra

t bel

owSh

ort D

escr

ipti

onD

imen

sion

s (m

) 94

Fill

76

9376

Very

soft

mid

gre

y sa

ndy

clay

with

occ

asio

nal m

ediu

m si

zed

sub-

angu

lar s

tone

s. T

his f

ill w

as in

two

area

s at t

he b

ase o

f cut

C76

. Fi

ll C

93 w

as se

para

ting

the t

wo

area

s. T

his c

lay

may

be w

ater

-lo

gged

or s

iltin

g at

the b

ase o

f suc

h a v

ertic

al d

eep

hole.

Dim

en-

sions

giv

en re

fer t

o tw

o pa

rts.

? X 0

.25

x 0.

3

95Fi

ll77

96

77C

ompa

ct li

ght y

ello

w b

row

n cl

ayey

sand

with

occ

asio

nal m

ediu

m

sub-

angu

lar a

nd su

b-ro

unde

d sto

nes.

Thi

s is t

he b

asal

laye

r in

linea

r fea

ture

C75

.

? X 1

.28

x 0.

21

96Fi

ll77

78

95, 1

00C

ompa

ct d

ark

grey

ish b

lack

silty

sand

. ? X

1.6

x 0

.04

97C

ut

9898

99C

ircul

ar fe

atur

e with

gen

tly sl

opin

g co

ncav

e sid

es a

nd a

circ

ular

co

ncav

e bas

e. T

his i

s pos

sibly

par

t of a

root

bol

e. A

natu

ral f

eatu

re.

0.5

x 0.

5 x

0.18

98Fi

ll97

1

97Fi

rm m

id g

rey

sand

y cl

ay w

ith o

ccas

iona

l sm

all a

ngul

ar st

ones

. T

his i

s the

fill

of a

mos

t lik

ely ro

ot h

ole -

nat

ural

.0.

5 x

0.5

x 0.

18

99Fi

ll89

97

89Fi

rm m

id g

rey

sand

y cl

ay w

ith m

oder

ate s

mal

l ang

ular

ston

es. F

ill

of p

ossib

le ro

ot h

ole?

2.6

x 2.

0 x

0.27

100

Fill

77

9677

Com

pact

ligh

t ora

nge y

ello

w c

laye

y sa

nd. T

his i

s the

fill

of th

e m

oder

n fie

ld b

ound

ary

C77

.? X

1.0

4 x

0.2

101

Cut

10

210

22

Circ

ular

pit

with

mod

erat

e slo

ping

con

cave

side

s and

a ci

rcul

ar

conc

ave b

ase.

Poss

ible

root

act

ion.

0.

54 x

0.5

x 0

.19

102

Fill

101

1

101

Firm

mid

gre

y sa

ndy

clay

. Pos

sible

root

act

ion.

0.

54 x

0.5

x 0

.1910

3C

ut

104

104

2C

ircul

ar w

ith g

ently

slop

ing

conc

ave s

ides

and

a ci

rcul

ar c

onca

ve

base

. Pos

sible

root

act

ion.

0.

2 x

0.1

x 0.

1

104

Fill

103

1

103

Firm

mid

gre

y sa

ndy

clay

. 0.

2 x

0.1

x 0.

110

5Fi

ll10

7

7310

7C

ompa

ct m

id re

ddish

yel

low

cla

yey

sand

with

mod

erat

e coa

rse

angu

lar p

ebbl

es. P

ossib

le na

tura

l. N

ear f

eatu

re C

71.

1.10

x 1

.00

x 0.

14

106

Spre

ad

73

2C

ompa

ct li

ght g

rey

sand

y cl

ay w

ith fr

eque

nt c

harc

oal f

lecks

. Sm

all d

epos

it at

lyin

g un

dern

eath

fill

C.7

3. O

rigin

ally

from

C71

th

e dep

osit

is ve

ry sh

allo

w a

nd n

ot v

ery

long

in se

ctio

n. S

ee c

on-

text

shee

t C10

5 fo

r dra

win

g de

tails

.

0.5

x 0.

4 X

0.4

107

Cut

73

, 105

105

2Sm

all c

ircul

ar p

it un

der s

prea

d co

nnec

ted

with

C72

.1.

10 x

1.0

0 x

0.14

Appendix 2 Site matrix

Ballynamona 1-E2428

41



42

Ballynamona 1-E2428

43


Appendix 3 Groups and subgroups

Group 1 Natural Deposits This group describes the natural geological deposits identified across both areas of excavation.

Subgroup {1001} TopsoilList of Contexts; C.1Description This subgroup describes the topsoil covering the archaeological features in Areas 1 and 2. For both areas it was a loose dark brown silty clay.

Subgroup {1002} SubsoilList of Contexts; C.2DescriptionThis subgroup describes the natural subsoil that formed across Areas 1 and 2. For both areas it was a compact reddish orange sandy clay.

Group 2 Cremation PitsThis group describes the cremation pits and associated features observed in Area 2.

Subgroup {2001} Cremation PitsList of Contexts; C. [55], 56, [86], 87, 88Description Two cremation pits were located in Area 2. Pit [55] measured 0.85 m in length, 0.74 m in width and 0.1 m in depth. It was oval in shape, concave in profile and sides varied from gentle to steep in gradient. It was filled by a firm mid greyish black sand clay (56). Frequent small pieces of charcoal and burnt bone were recovered from this fill. Thirty-six sherds of prehistoric pottery were also recovered from this fill. Pit [86] was located 8.5 m to the west of pit [55]. It measured 0.5 m in length, 0.4 m in width and 0.12 m in depth. It was sub-circular in shape, concave in profile and had gently sloping sides. The primary fill was a compact mid yellowish brown clayey sand (88) and the secondary fill was a compact dark brown silty sand (87). Occasional charcoal pieces were recovered from both fills. 22 sherds of prehistoric pottery were recovered from the primary fill of this feature.

InterpretationThese two pits represent the remains of two heavily truncated cremations. This indicated by the evidence of burning, burnt bone and the abundance of pottery sherds within the


44

primary fills of both of these pits. The pottery appears to be prehistoric in date giving an approximate date for these features. These features appear to be have been heavily trun-cated, probably by later agricultural activities e.g. ploughing.

Subgroup {2002} Associated PitsList of Contexts; C. [57], 58, 59, [60], 61, 62, [63], 64, 65, 66DescriptionThree associated features were located in close proximity to cremation pit [55].

Pit [57] was located 1.7 m north of pit [55]. It measured 0.86 m in length, 0.64 m in width and 0.08 m in depth. It was oval on shape, flat in profile and had gently sloping sides. The primary fill was a compact mid brownish grey clayey sand (58) and the second-ary fill was a compact dark black clayey sand (59). Moderate amounts of flecks and small pieces of charcoal were observed in both fills. A sherd of prehistoric pottery was recovered from the primary fill of this feature.

Pit [60] was located 0.5 m to the east of pit [55]. It measured 0.9 m in length, 0.52 m in width and 0.18 m in depth. It was irregular in shape, concave in profile and sides varied from moderate to steep in gradient. The primary fill was a firm mid reddish orange sandy clay (62) and the secondary fill was a compact mid black silty sand (61).

Pit [63] was located 1.6 m to the east of pit [55]. It measured 0.9 m in length, 0.78 m in width and 0.34 m in depth. It was oval in shape, concave in profile and had steeply sloping sides. The primary fill was a firm mid brownish grey sandy clay (66) with frequent medium and large pieces of charcoal inclusions. The secondary fill was a firm mid yel-lowish brown sandy clay (65) and the final fill was a compact mid grey silty clay (64) with frequent medium pieces of charcoal inclusions.

InterpretationThe three features were located in close proximity to, and probably had a close relation-ship with, cremation pit [55]. Pit [57] contained a sherd of prehistoric pottery relating it directly with the finds from cremation [55] but for what function is unknown. Pit [63] contained three fills, two of which had concentrated charcoal deposits within them. This may have been a dump of burnt material (waste) resulting from the burning of the human remains. Pit [60] appeared to have evidence of in-situ burning within its primary fill. This pit may have provided an alternative method of cremating the human remains that a pyre.

Group 3 PostholesThis group describes two postholes located in the centre of Area 1List of Contexts; C. [35], 36, [37], 38Description Two postholes were located in the centre of Area 1.

Posthole [35] measured 0.4 m in length, 0.25 m in width and 0.18 m in depth. It was sub-circular in shape, concave in profile and had steeply sloping sides. It was filled

Ballynamona 1-E2428

45


by a firm mid yellowish brown silty clay (36) with occasional small pieces and moderate flecks of charcoal inclusions.

Posthole [37] was located 0.14 m east of posthole [35]. It measured 0.24 m in length, 0.2 m in width and 0.08 m in depth. It was sub-circular in shape with a flat base and vertical sides. It was filled by a firm mid yellowish brown silty clay (38) with occasional small pieces and moderate flecks of charcoal inclusions. It was truncated by large pit [39].

InterpretationThese two postholes represent the only structural elements that have survived on this site. The charcoal inclusions within the fills of these post-holes suggest they had a close rela-tionship with the burning activity took place in this area. They may represent the remains of a burial pyre, possibly used to cremate human remains before they were placed in the cremation burials described in group 2. This is supported by the fact that the postholes were fairly small in size and probably could not support anything substantial in size.

Group 4 PitsThis group describes sixteen pits excavated across Areas 1 and 2.

Subgroup {4001} Area 1 List of Contexts; C. [3], 6, 7, 9, [10], 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, [11], 12, 20, [21], 22, 23, [24], 25, 26, [27], 28, 29, [34], 41, [39], 40, [42], 43, 44.Description Nine pits were located across Area 1.

Four pits were located to the south of Area 1.Pit [3] measured 0.9 m in length, 0.54 m in width and 0.4 m in depth. It was oval

in shape with a flat profile and gently sloping sides. It was filled by three deposits. The primary deposit was a very soft light brown clayey silt (7), the secondary deposit was a soft white sandy clay (9) and the final deposit was a very soft dark black silt (6). Frequent charcoal flecks inclusions were observed in fills (6) and (7).

Pit [10] was located 0.7 m to the east. It measured 1.1 m in length, 0.6 m in width ad 0.4 m in depth. It was oval in shape, concave in profile and had steeply sloping sides. It was filled by seven deposits. They varied in colour from light yellowish white to dark black and varied in composition from sandy clay to clayey silt. Frequent flecks of charcoal were observed from four of the seven fills.

Pit [34] was located 1.9 m south-east of pit [10]. It measured 0.46 m in length, 0.3 m in width and 0.18 m in depth. It was sub-rectangular in shape with a flat profile and gently sloping sides. It was filled by a very soft mid brown sandy clay (41) with occasional flecks and small pieces of charcoal inclusions.

Pit [42] was located 0.55 m south of pit [10]. It measured 0.44 m in length, 0.4 m in width and 0.18 m in depth. It was sub-rectangular in shape, concave in profile and shad


46

steeply sloping sides. The primary fill was a soft mid yellowish brown sandy clay (44) and the secondary fill was a soft mid pinkish red sandy clay (43). This fill contained occasional charcoal fleck inclusions.

Three pits were located in the centre of Area 1.Pit [11] measured 1.3 m in length, 1.05 m in width and 0.25 m in depth. It was irregular in shape, concave in profile and had moderately steep sloping sides. The primary fill was a compact light yellowish brown silty clay (12) and the secondary deposit was a firm mid brown silty clay (20). Occasional flecks and small pieces of charcoal were recovered from both fills.

Pit [24] was located 1.88 m to the north-east. It measured 0.6 m in length, 0.4 m in width and 0.16 m in depth. It was oval in shape, concave in profile and had moderately steep sloping sides. The primary fill was a firm dark brown silty clay (26) and the sec-ondary deposit was a firm mid brown silty clay (25). Moderate flecks and small pieces of charcoal were recovered from fill (26).

Pit [39] was located 2.95 m north of pit [11]. It measured 1.4 m in length, 1.1 m in width and 0.24 m in depth. It was irregular in shape, concave in profile and had steeply sloping sides. It was filled by a firm mid yellowish brown silty clay (40) with occasional flecks and moderate amounts of small pieces of charcoal inclusions. This pit truncated earlier posthole [37] as described in group 3.

Two pits were located to the west of Area 1Pit [21] measured 0.6 m in diameter and 0.14 m in depth. It was circular in shape and had moderately steep sides. The primary fill was a firm dark black silty clay (23). Frequent flecks and small pieces of charcoal and burnt stone were observed within this fill. The sec-ondary fill was a loose mid brown sandy clay (22) with occasional small charcoal pieces. A piece of barbed wire was recovered from the secondary fill.

Pit [27] was located 2.1 m south-west of pit [21]. It measured 0.56 m in diameter and 0.21 m in depth. It was circular in shape, concave in profile and had moderately steep sides. The primary fill was a soft dark black sandy silt (29) and the secondary fill was a compact mid greyish brown silty sand (28). Moderate flecks and small pieces of charcoal were observed within these fills.

InterpretationThe fills of all nine of these pits contained charcoal. This suggests that these pits had a strong relationship to the burning activity that occurred in this area, possibly in associa-tion with the burning and burial of human remains. We can assume that some of these pits post date the burial activity as pit [39] truncated posthole [37]. However, without further information the exact function of these pits is difficult determine. These features may have been backfilled recently, possibly to level the ground surface for agricultural purposes. This can be seen by the barbed wire found within pit [21].

Ballynamona 1-E2428

47


Subgroup {4002} Area 2List of Contexts; C.[67], 68, 69, [71], 73, 74, [72], 75, [76], 93, 94, [81], 82, 83, [91], 92, [107], 105, 106.DescriptionSeven pits were located across Area 2.

Five pits were located in the centre of Area 2.Pit [67] measured 1.34 m in length, 0.94 m in width and 0.18 m in depth. It was oval in shape, flat in profile and had gently sloping sides. The primary fill was a compact mid brownish yellow clayey sand (69) and the secondary fill was a compact dark reddish brown clayey sand (68). Moderate charcoal flecks were observed within both fills.

Pit [71] was located 0.48 m to the south-west. It measured 0.8 m in length, 0.6 m in width and 0.2 m in depth. It was oval in shape, flat in profile and had gently sloping sides. The primary fill was a very soft mid yellowish brown sandy clay (74). Pit [105] was located just to the north of pit [71]. It was circular in shape and measured 1.1 m in length, 1 m in width and 0.14 min depth. The primary fill was a compact mid reddish yellow clayey sand (105). The secondary fill of both of these pits was a compact dark brownish black clayey sand (73) with occasional charcoal fleck inclusions. Fill (73) also overlay spread (106), a compact light grey clay with frequent charcoal flecks.

Pit [72] was located 0.7 m south of pit [67]. It measured 0.64 m in length, 0.54 m in width and 0.23 m in depth. It was sub-rectangular in shape, flat in profile and had steeply sloping sides. It was filled by a compact dark greyish brown clayey sand (75) with occa-sional charcoal flecks inclusions.

Pit [81] was located 1.5 m south-east of pit [72]. It measured 0.66 m in length, 0.48 m in width and 0.22 m in depth. It was oval in shape, flat in profile and had moderately steep sides. The primary fill was a very soft mid yellowish brown clay (83) and the sec-ondary fill was a soft dark brown clayey silt (82). Both fills contained occasional charcoal flecks.

Pit [76] was located to the south of Area 2. It measured 1.21 m in length, 0.76 m in width and 0.58 m in depth. It was oval in shape, flat in profile and had steeply sloping sides. The primary fill was a mid grey sandy clay (94) and the secondary fill was a soft dark brown stony clay (93). Occasional flecks of charcoal inclusions were observed within the secondary fill.

Pit [91] was located between field boundaries [77] and [80] as described in group 5. It measured 0.38 m in length, 0.3 m in width and 0.17 m in depth. It was circular in shape, concave in profile and had gently sloping sides. It was filled by a compact mid brown clayey sand (92) with occasional flecks of charcoal inclusions.

InterpretationAll seven pits found in Area 2 contained charcoal within their fills. This may link these pits to the high concentration of burning activity occurring within this area, possibly


48

associated with the cremation and burial of human remains. However, without further information their exact function is difficult to determine.

Group 5 Linear FeaturesThis group describes the single linear feature in Area 1 and the two linear features in Area 2

Subgroup {5001} Area 1 List of Contexts; C. [45], 46Description A single linear feature was uncovered in Area 1. It was orientated north to south and measured 0.84 in width and 0.2 in depth. It was linear in shape with a flat profile and gently sloping and stepped sides. It was filled by a very soft mid yellowish brown clayey sand (46).

InterpretationThis linear feature represents a drainage ditch in order to drain the easily waterlogged field in which Area 1 was located. The sterile nature of the fills suggests this feature natu-rally silted up after the intense burning activity that occurred in this area. This indicated that this feature post dated the burials on this site, possibly represented a modern agri-cultural ditch.

Subgroup {5002} Area 2List of Contexts; C. [77], 78, 95, 96, 100, [80], 84.DescriptionTwo parallel linear features were discovered in Area 2.Linear [77] was orientated north to south and measured 1.5 in width and 0.45 in depth. It was linear in shape with a concave profile and moderately steep sloping sides. Its primary fills were a compact light yellowish brown clayey sand (95) and a compact light orangish yellow clayey sand (100). These fills were overlain by the secondary deposit, a compact dark greyish black silty sand (96). The final fill was a compact mid brownish grey silty clay (78).

Linear [80] was located 1.95 m to the west. It was orientated north to south and mea-sured 1.6 m in width and 0.3 in depth. It was linear in shape with a concave profile and gently sloping sides. It was filled by compact mid brownish grey silty sand (84).

InterpretationThese two liner features represent two parallel field boundaries. These may have been con-temporary in nature but were more likely an initial boundary that was later replaced. The sterile nature of the fills suggests that the boundaries naturally silted up over time after

Ballynamona 1-E2428

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the intense burning activity that occurred in this area. This suggests that they are later in date than the burials and possibly represent modern agricultural activity.

Group 6 Natural FeaturesThis group describes ten natural features located both in Areas 1 and 2.

Subgroup {6001} Area 1 List of Contexts; C. [4], 5, 8, [31], 32, [47], 48, [49], 52, [50], 53, [51], 54.Description

Context No Dimensions (m) 4 0.7 x 0.5 x 0.08

31 2.8 x 1.5 x 0.3

47 0.86 x 0.42 x 0.14

49 0.48 x 0.3 x 0.1

50 0.6 x 0.3 x 0.08

51 0.38 x 0.2 x 0.08

Table1:DimensionsofnaturalfeaturesinArea1

These six features varied greatly in length, width and depth, as seen in the table above. They were generally oval or irregular in shape and the sides were gentle to steep in gradi-ent. The fills of these features varied in colour from light orangish brown to dark black and were in general clayey sand in composition. Charcoal inclusions were present in the fills of five of these features.

Subgroup {6002} Area 2List of Contexts; C. [89], 99, [97], 98, [101], 102, [103], 104.Description

Context No Dimensions (m)

89 2.6 x 2.0 x 0.27

97 0.5 x 0.5 x 0.18

101 0.54 x 0.5 x 0.19

103 0.2 x 0.1 x 0.1

Table2DimensionsofnaturalfeaturesinArea2

These four features varied greatly in length, width and depth, as seen in the table above. They were generally irregular or circular in shape and had gently sloping sides. The fills of these features were in general mid grey in colour and sandy clay in composition.


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Group InterpretationThe irregularity in shape, the lack of depth and sterile fills of these features suggests that they are natural in origin, possibly vegetation bowls. The charcoal inclusions within their fills are most likely the result of contamination by surrounding burning activity.

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Appendix 4 Finds registerContext #

NMI Find #

Area Category Fabric Artefact Type Short Description/Comments rt Description/Comments

56 1 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines56 2 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd56 3 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines56 4 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines56 5 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines56 6 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd56 7 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines56 8 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd56 9 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines56 10 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines56 11 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd56 12 2 Ceramic Pottery Rim Sherd Decorated - carved motif56 13 2 Ceramic Pottery Rim Sherd Decorated - carved lines56 14 2 Ceramic Pottery Rim Sherd Decorated - carved lines56 15 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines56 16 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd56 17 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines56 18 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines56 19 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines56 20 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd56 21 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd56 22 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines56 23 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines56 24 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines56 25 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines56 26 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines56 27 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines56 28 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd56 29 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd56 30 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines56 31 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines56 32 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines56 33 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd56 34 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd56 35 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd56 36 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines56 37 2 Ceramic Pottery Basal Sherd56 38 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines56 39 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines56 40 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd56 41 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd56 42 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines56 43 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd56 44 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd56 45 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd56 46 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherds x4 small fragments56 47 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Crumbs x5


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56 48 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd originally 2 fragments56 49 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd56 50 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd56 51 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd56 52 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd (originally 3 fragments) Deco-

rated - carved lines56 53 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd56 54 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd56 55 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd56 56 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd56 57 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd56 58 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd Decorated - carved lines87 1 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd 87 2 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd 87 3 2 Ceramic Pottery Rim Sherd 87 4 2 Ceramic Pottery Rim Sherd 87 5 2 Ceramic Pottery Rim Sherd 87 6 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd 87 7 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd 87 8 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherd 87 9 2 Ceramic Pottery Body Sherds x6 small fragments

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Appendix 5 Plant remains

IntroductionThis report presents the results of plant remains analysis from Ballynamona 1. The site comprised a series of pits, including two possible cremation pits. Artefacts included Grooved Ware and Vase urns, indicating activity dating to the Late Neolithic and the Early Bronze Age. The plant remains were all identified as hazelnut shell fragments.

MethodologyThe samples were collected on site as bulk soil and were processed using machine-as-sisted floatation (following guidelines in Pearsall 2000). The floating material (or ‘flot’) from each sample was collected in a stack of geological sieves (the smallest mesh size was 250mm). When all the carbonised material was collected the flot was then air-dried in paper-lined drying trays prior to storage in airtight plastic bags. The samples were scanned under low-powered magnification (x 10 to x 40) using a binocular microscope. Nomen-clature and taxonomic order follows Stace (1997).

ResultsA total of 24 samples were examined but plant remains were only present in 7 of the samples. The plant remains were identified as barley and indeterminate cereal grains and fragments of hazelnut shell.

Sample Context Charcoal Seeds % scanned2 7 Medium Absent 1008 12 Low Absent 10011 13 High Absent 10012 14 Medium Absent 10014 16 Low Absent 10019 32 Medium Absent 10022 26 Medium Absent 10024 23 Medium Absent 10027 36 Medium Low 10031 43 Low Absent 10038 56 Medium Absent 10041 30 High Absent 10042 61 Low Absent 10043 62 Low Absent 10044 64 Low Absent 10045 65 Low Absent 10050 69 Low Absent 10052 56 High Medium 10053 73 Medium Low 100


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54 74 Low Absent 10062 87 Low Low 10063 88 Medium Low 10068 92 Low Absent 10070 76/94 Low Low 100

Table1:ScannedsamplesfromBallynamona1,Co�Cork(E2428)

Where plant material was found, it was retrieved in moderate quantities. The identi-fied material (presented in Table 2) was predominantly cereal remains, grains in particu-lar, which were primarily barley.

Context 36 53 64 73 87 88 94Sample 27 73 44 53 62 63 70Hazelnut shell fragments (Corylus avellana L.) 1 61 4 33 11 6 4Barley grains (Hordeum vulgare L.) 1 3 4 5Indeterminate cereal grains 1 4 1 1

Table2:PlantmaterialinsamplesfromBallynamona1,Co�Cork(E2428)

Hazelnut shell fragments are ubiquitous finds in Irish archaeobotanical assemblages. Eating hazelnuts creates quite a large amount of waste (Monk 2000, 75) and archaeobota-nists generally agree that a small collection of hazelnut shell fragments is unlikely to be a significant indicator of site diet (e.g. McClatchie 2007, 65). Therefore, the few fragments retrieved from this site are probably relatively unimportant.

The archaeological remains suggest that these deposits are Late Neolithic and this site therefore adds to the relatively scant evidence of barley cultivation in Ireland during the Neolithic (Monk 1986, 32). In Britain, Grooved Ware sherds generally have no cereal impressions and therefore settlements associated with Grooved Ware were traditionally associated with pastoral cultures, rather than arable agriculture. This assumption was turned on its head by the systematic flotation of samples associated with Grooved Ware sites: Jones (1980) proved that carbonised grain was regularly found in deposits from this period. In Britain the results demonstrated that cereals from the Late Neolithic included emmer and bread wheat and barley and that hazelnut shells and crab apple pips were also found. Flotation has been carried out at a limited number of Grooved Ware sites in Ireland including Ballynamona 1. The Irish results suggest that barley was probably the most common cereal type (as at Ballynamona 1) and that hazelnut shells and apple pips were also relatively common.

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ReferencesJohnston, P. 2007 Analysis of Carbonised Plant Remains, pp. 70 – 79 in Grogan, E.,

O’Donnell, L. and Johnston, P. The Bronze Age Landscapes of the Pipline to the West. Bray, Wordwell.

Jones, M. 1980 ‘Carbonised cereals from Grooved Ware contexts,’ Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 46, 61– 63.

McClatchie, M. 2007 ‘The plant remains,’ in Doody, M. Excavations at Curraghatoor, Co. Tipperary. Cork, UCC Department of Archaeology Archaeological Monograph, 62 – 67.

Monk, M. 2000 ‘Seeds and soils of discontent: an environmental archaeological contribution to the nature of the Early Neolithic,’ 67 – 87 in Desmond, A., Johnson, G., McCarthy, M., Sheehan, J. and Shee Twohig, E. (eds) New Agendas in Irish Prehistory. Bray, Wordwell.

Pearsall, D. 2000 Paleoethnobotany: a Handbook of Procedures. New York, Academic Press.

Stace, C.A. 1997 New Flora in the British Isles. (2nd edition) Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.


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Appendix 6 Pottery report

By Helen Roche and Eoin Grogan

SummaryThis small assemblage of 81 sherds (weight 1028g) represents a Late Neolithic Grooved Ware vessel and an Early Bronze Age vase urn. Detailed descriptions of the sherds and contexts are presented in the Catalogue, after a general discussion of the assemblages. The excavation number is omitted throughout this report, only the context number (in bold in the Catalogue) followed by the find number is included.

Area 2

The Late Neolithic Grooved Ware VesselFifteen sherds of Grooved Ware were found in a possible cremation pit (Context 86), consisting of three base-anglesherds, five bodysherds and seven fragments representing a single barrel-shaped flat-based cordoned vessel. The good quality burnished, thin-walled fabric is slightly weathered and small cavities are present on both surfaces. Decoration is present in the form of a horizontal row of faint, closely spaced comb impressions imme-diately above the cordon; a row of closely-spaced comb impressions, and sometimes just an incised line, is present around the circumference of the external surface of the base. Cordons are a feature on a small number of Grooved Ware vessels in Ireland, for example, Longstone Cullen, Co. Tipperary (Roche 1995, fig. 49), and decoration is present on the exterior surface of the base of vessels from Longstone, Geroid Island, Lough Gur, Co. Limerick (Roche 1995, figs 44, 48, 27), and Knowth, Co. Meath (Eogan and Roche 1997, 157, fig. 28: V.2 and V.8). However, the presence of comb impressed decoration has not previously been identified on Irish Grooved Ware. Carbonised residue is present on the interior surface indicating that they had, at some stage, been used for cooking.

DiscussionThe Ballynamona 1 site and associated assemblage is one of the latest additions to the growing number of Grooved Ware sites Ireland, dating to c. 2900–2450 BC (Eogan and Roche 1997, 219). Although still not plentiful, it has become more common throughout the country but with a particular concentration in the north-eastern part of the coun-try. The majority of the sites appear to represent ritual activity especially associated with timber circles. The context of the Ballynamona 1 vessel, in a possible cremation pit, is important as such associations are not common. The vessel from Ballynamona 1 can be readily paralleled by material from other Irish sites as close as Longstone Cullen, and as far away as Knowth and Bettystown, Co. Meath, Whitewell, Co. Westmeath, and Ballynahatty, Co. Down (Eogan and Roche 1997, fig. 21; J. Eogan 1999; Phelan 2007;

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Hartwell 1998, 32–44), and more recently from timber circles at Balgatheran, Co. Louth (Ó Drisceoil 2003), an enclosure at Balregan, Co. Louth (Grogan and Roche 2005), and a pit at Rathmullan, Co. Meath (Bolger 2002, 8–9). In the immediate area a large as-semblage of Grooved Ware came from Ballynacarriga 3 on the Fermoy to Mitchelstown Bypass scheme.

Early Bronze Age vase urnSixty six sherds, consisting of 10 rimsherds, 10 shouldersherds, a base-anglesherd, 17 bodysherds and 28 fragments, representing a single vase urn were found in a second pos-sible cremation pit (Context 55). The vessel, with its rounded rim, vertical neck, rounded shoulder and a belly that slopes down to a narrow base is consistent with Brindley’s (2007, 278–79) Stage 2 vase urns. The hard but loose textured fabric with a moderate to high content of inclusions is somewhat weathered. The vase is elaborately decorated. Oblique lines of whipped cord impressions occur on the rim top. The exterior surface of the rim and neck are decorated with vertical and oblique broad incised lines, at the neck/shoul-der junction is a horizontal row of rounded impressions bounded by horizontal rows of whipped cord impressions. The rounded shoulder has a horizontal row of oblique broad incised lines, below which is a horizontal row of rounded impressions bounded by hori-zontal rows of whipped cord impressions. At the shoulder/belly junction is a horizontal row of short oblique lines of whipped cord impressions. The belly of the vessel is deco-rated with a broad incised lattice pattern. The interior surface of the rim and neck have a herringbone pattern of two rows of oblique and opposing broad incised lines. Carbonised residue is present on the interior surface.

Vase urns are not common in this region, having a more dominant distribution in the north and northeast. However, an example came from a funerary context at Ballinvoher, Co. Cork (Waddell 1990, 58). Vase urns were in contemporary use with other pottery of the Vase Tradition, such as food vessels and encrusted urns, and research has established a date range of c. 1930/1920–c. 1830 BC for this ceramic type (Brindley 2007, 328).


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ReferencesBrindley, A. L. 2007 The Dating of Food Vessels and Urns in Ireland. Department of

Archaeology, National University of Ireland, Galway.

Bolger, T. 2002 Three sites on the M1 Motorway at Rathmullan, Co. Meath, Ríocht na Midhe 13, 8–17.

Eogan, J. 1999 Recent Excavations at Bettystown, Co. Meath. Irish Association of Professional Archaeologists Newsletter 30, 9.

Eogan, G. and Roche, H. 1997 Excavations at Knowth (2). Royal Irish Academy and Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Dublin.

Grogan, E. and Roche, H. 2005 The prehistoric pottery from Balregan 1, Co. Louth (03E0157). Unpublished Report for Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd.

Hartwell, B. 1998 The Ballynahatty Complex. In A. Gibson and D. Simpson (eds), Prehistoric Ritual and Religion, 32–44. Sutton Publishing Ltd., Gloucestershire.

Ó Drisceoil, C. 2003 Balgatheran Site 4. Late Neolithic ritual/settlement site, Co. Louth. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 2001, 255–57. Wordwell, Bray.

Phelan, S. 2007 1903. Whitewell. Grooved Ware timber circle. In E. Grogan, L. O’Donnell and Johnson, P. The Bronze Age landscapes of the Pipeline to the West, 349‒50. Bord Gais/ Wordwell, Bray.

Roche, H. 1995 Style and Context for Grooved Ware in Ireland: with special reference to the assemblage at Knowth, Co. Meath. Unpublished M.A. Thesis. Department of Archaeology, National University of Ireland, Dublin.

Waddell, J. 1990 The Bronze Age Burials of Ireland. Galway University Press.

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CatalogueThe excavation number E2428 is omitted throughout; only the context number followed by the find number is included.

Where the pottery is listed in the catalogue the context numbers are in bold: e.g. bodysherds: 87:2–4.

Sherd numbers incorporating a forward slash indicates joining sherds, e.g. 888/444. The colour reference refers to the outer surface/core/inner surface, e.g. orange/grey/black.

The thickness refers to an average dimension; where relevant a thickness range is indicated.

Vessel numbers have been allocated to pottery where some estimation of the form of the pot is possible, or where the detailed evidence of featured sherds (e.g. rims, shoulders) or the fabric indicates separate vessels.

Area 2

Late Neolithic Grooved Ware Vessel

Vessel 1. Represented by three base-angle sherds 87:2–4, two cordon sherds 87:6a–b, five bodysherds 87:1, 5, 6a–b, 8 (two with cordons) and seven fragments 87:7, 9a–f from a barrel-shaped flat based vessel with a low raised cordon probably not far below the rim.

Thin-walled hard compact fabric with a moderate to high content of crushed quartzite inclusions (≤ 2.7mm). The smooth burnished surfaces are slightly weathered and small cavities are present on both surfaces. Carbonised residue is present on the interior surface. A horizontal row of faint closely spaced comb impressions is present immediately above the cordon. A row of closely-spaced comb impressions and sometimes just an incised line is present around the circumference of the external surface of the base. Colour: brown-orange/dark orange-grey/black. T: 3.2–7.9mm. Weight: 135g.

Early Bronze Age Vase Urn

Vessel 2. Represented by ten rimsherds 56:2–3, 7, 10, 13–14, 23, 32, 38, 40, ten shoul-dersherds 56:9, 25, 29–30, 36, 39, 43, 48, 53, 55, a base-angle fragment 56:37, seventeen bodysherds 56:1, 4–5, 8, 15, 18–19, 22, 26, 31, 49–52, 54, 57–58 and twenty eight frag-ments 56:2, 6, 11, 16–17, 20a–b, 21, 24, 27–28, 33–35, 41–42, 44–45, 46a–d, 47a–e, 56 from a vessel with a rounded rim, vertical neck, rounded shoulder and the belly slopes down to a narrow base.

Hard but loose textured fabric with a moderate to high content of crushed inclu-sions (≤ 5.1mm). The smoothed surfaces are somewhat weathered. Carbonised residue is present on the interior surface. The interior surface of the rim and neck are decorated with a herringbone pattern of two rows of oblique and opposing broad incised lines. The top of the rim is decorated with oblique lines of whipped cord impressions. The exterior surface of the rim and neck are decorated with vertical and oblique broad incised lines, at the neck/shoulder junction is a horizontal row of rounded impressions bounded by


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horizontal rows of whipped cord impressions. The rounded shoulder is decorated with a horizontal row of oblique broad incised lines, below which is a horizontal row of rounded impressions bounded by horizontal rows of whipped cord impressions. At the shoulder/belly junction is a horizontal row of short oblique lines of whipped cord impressions. The belly of the vessel is decorated with a broad incised lattice pattern. Colour: orange/dark grey-black/brown-black. T: 7.2–11.8mm. Weight: 893g.

Archaeological Report - Ballynamona 1, Co. Cork (Ireland)

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Transcript of Archaeological Report - Ballynamona 1, Co. Cork (Ireland)