By ticking "I agree" below you are agreeing to the use of cookies and to the terms and conditions of use as outlined above. These are also available on the End User Agreement page. For more information see our Privacy Policy.
Downloaded assets must be used in accordance with the DRI End User Terms and Conditions
Total number of assets (1)
This browser does not support viewing this file type. Please download the asset to view.
This report presents the results of archaeological investigations carried out on behalf of Kildare County Council and the National Roads Authority as part of Archaeological Services Contract No. 4 ? Resolution, Prumplestown to Powerstown, prior to the commencement of construction on this section of the N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford Scheme: Kilcullen to Powerstown. The work was undertaken under National Monuments Section Registration Number E2612 in the townland of Ballybannon, Co. Carlow. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, following consultation with the National Museum of Ireland, directed that µine Richardson of Headland Archaeology (Ireland) Ltd should proceed with archaeological resolution. The report was written by Gerry Breen, Dorota Kozlowska and Lyndsey Clark, as Ms Richardson was no longer employed by Headland Archaeology (Ireland) Ltd during the post?excavation phase of the project. Archaeological testing carried out under Archaeological Services Contract, Test Excavations Contract 3, Prumplestown to Powerstown under Ministerial Direction Number A021/054, on this site on 18 July 2005 identified a potential prehistoric site with evidence of a possible enclosure located on the opposite side of the field (Hackett and Hughes 2005). Full archaeological resolution was conducted on this site between 21 June and 18 July 2006. Two areas of archaeological interest were identified; these are referred to as Area A, located in the southeastern part of the resolution area, and Area B, located to the northwest. Excavation of Area A revealed approximately one third of a newly discovered enclosure ditch. Radiocarbon dating of oak charcoal retrieved from this feature returned a calibrated (2?) date range of 404?238 BC making this a rare example of an Early Iron Age enclosure. In addition to this numerous pits, postholes and stake?holes were also identified dating from the Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age through to the Late Iron Age/Early medieval periods. Excavation of Area B to the northwest of Area A revealed several pits and postholes, some of which displayed evidence of domestic activity. No evidence of a structure was identified in this area, however it is possible that more archaeological features are present outside the limits of excavation. The features in this area dated from the Neolithic period through to the Early Bronze Age period. NOTE: THE GRID REFERENCES PROVIDED IN THE FINAL REPORT PROVED INCORRECT. THE CORRECT GRID REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED IN THE METADATA.