Burnt mound in Ballyvadden

Situated towards the head of a N-S valley at the headwaters of a stream that runs S and then W to the N-S Mahon River. A spring was just E of the site. It was first identified as a burnt spread by C. Moloney (2006) in testing (06E0163) on the line of a water pipe, and subsequently sample excavated (06E0283) by T. Janes. This was an extensive area of burnt stone and charcoal-rich soil (dims. c. 18m x c. 17m) which produced a C14 date of 1013-841 Cal BC (Janes 2008, 3, App. 8). No other features or artefacts were recovered. Burnt mound (WA024-119----) is further up the valley c. 120m to the NNE. (Janes 2009) Compiled by: Michael Moore. Date of upload/revision: 12th May, 2011.

Burnt mound in Ballyvadden is a Neolithic ritual or industrial site, dating to approximately 4000–2500 BCE. Its significance lies in providing evidence of early human activity, possibly related to heat-treated stone use or ceremonial practices.