Enclosure in Ballon — Report the wrong picture

What is recorded here

The walls of Troy vanished because neighbours carted their turf elsewhere for manure. That practical greed erased a large summit enclosure in Ballon, leaving only a smaller circular shadow behind. Memory failed the place, but human hunger rewrote its shape.

Formerly classified as 'Earthworks' in the Archaeological Inventory of County Carlow (Brindley and Kilfeather 1993, 22, no. 136) based on the description by Graves (JRSAI 1852-3, 296), in his article on the Ballon Hill cemetery (CW013-065----) which states that, 'On the summit … were formerly large and curious entrenchments, locally known as "The walls of Troy". These … have from time to time been all carted away by the neighbouring farmers for manure, so that not a trace ... now remains'. Following research carried out by Ballon Hill Archaeology Project a small roughly circular enclosure (diam. 30-40m) has been identified on the summit. The project has also identified a possible hilltop enclosure (CW013-124----) encircling the summit of the hill which incorporates the smaller enclosure in its NW quadrant. The 'walls of Troy' may refer to a maze of sod or turf on the summit, similar to one in Ballynavortha, Co. Wicklow (WI042-035----) (Manning 2004, 166-68). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Carlow' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1993). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of revision: 11 March 2014 Revised by: Jean Farrelly

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