Habitation site in Ballynacarrick (carrickboy Ed)

Excavation licence number 04E0015. A linear testing programme (Excavations 2003, No. 385, 03E1012-), carried out by Brian î Donnchadha in advance of the proposed N15 Bundoran to Ballyshannon bypass in the townland of Ballynacarrick, Co. Donegal, discovered a previously unknown site. An area of 500m2 was topsoil-stripped in advance of groundworks. Two main areas of activity were uncovered. The first (Area A) was at the western end of the stripped area and comprised several stake-holes and two possible beam slots. This may define the remains of a temporary structure or 'hut site'. The second area of activity (Area B) was to the east and concentrated on a large subrectangular pit and a heavily truncated pit. Finds associated with these areas tentatively suggest a Neolithic date for the majority of activity on site. Two hearths (DG107-117001-) were also uncovered associated with the above features. (Excavations Bulletin 2004) Fintan Walsh, Irish Archaeological Consultancy, 8 Dungar Terrace, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. The following site description has been taken from the NRA archaeological database website. The site is in a sheltered low-lying area sheltered by elevated rock outcrops on northern and western sides. It overlooks a turlough to the south. This site consisted of the remains of a structure and a possible butchering pit. Structure/hut site A cluster of stake-holes may define a structure (Structure A) or hut site. Some of the stake-holes seem to form a straight line oriented south-east-north-west, apparently associated with a possible beam slot. No finds were recovered from the fills of the stake-holes. The size and spacing of these possible structural elements suggest that the structure they may have defined would have been neither substantial nor permanent.Two linear features are interpreted as possible truncated beam slots defining one wall of the structure. Prehistoric pottery was recovered from one of the beam slots, although it is undiagnostic and cannot be used to date the structure. The two beam slots are both aligned on the same east-west axis and are separated by a gap of 1.4 m. At the western end of this gap, on the south-east corner of one of the beam slots was a stake-hole that may have served as a socket for a door jamb. Pit The most enigmatic feature on the site was a sub-rectangular cut feature approximately 7 m in length widening from 1.2 m at the eastern end to 2.6 m at the western end. The fills appeared to be the debris from a fire but charcoal inclusions were minimal and there was little sign of in situ burning around the feature. Only one find was recovered from this feature, a plano-convex flint knife. These tools are generally found in Neolithic contexts. This knife was found in one of the stratigraphically earliest fills. Although there is no direct relationship between the two, it is possible that this large pit and Structure A are contemporary. The pit has been interpreted as a possible butchering pit or corn-drying kiln. A plano-convex flint knife was found in a pit on this iste. These tools are generally found in Neolithic contexts. Also there is evidence that formal plano-convex knives are more common in Early Neolithic contexts in the north-west of Ireland at sites such as Thornhill, Co. Derry. Finds included Pottery: possibly Bronze Age, sherds from three separate vessels from structure. Plano-convex flint knife from pit. Charcoal analysis: Pine (Pinus sylvestris) identifed from pit. Radiocarbon dating from the charcoal (pine) from pit, 5160 +/- 40 BP, 4040 cal. BC - 3940 cal. BC (2 sigma)