Burnt mound in Ballyhenry

Test-trenching was carried out in the townland of Ballyhenry, Co. Wicklow, as part of the ongoing pre-development archaeological works in advance of the proposed N11 Wicklow Bypass road improvement scheme. The testing was carried out over a 0.5km stretch of the proposed road route, and four areas of archaeological potential were identified. The remains of a substantial burnt mound, c. 25m long, 15m wide and c. 1m deep, were located within the central area of testing; a second area of archaeological activity c. 20m to the north of this survived as a large spread of burnt mound material, c. 7m in diameter. A third area of activity was found within the northernmost area of testing. This appeared as a small spread of burnt mound material, possibly a small pit, beside which was a dump of apparently unburnt stone. A fourth area of activity within the southernmost portion of the test area consisted of two parallel ditches and an area of burning between them associated with a large pit (Bennett 2003, 409-10). Date of upload: 01 October 2012

Burnt mound in Ballyhenry is a Bronze Age ritual or industrial site, characterized by the presence of heat-shattered stones and fire-cracked rock. Its significance lies in providing evidence of early land use and domestic or ceremonial activities in the Wicklow region during the Bronze Age.