County: Kildare Site name: MAYFIELD
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 98E0288
Author: Breandán Ó Ríordáin, assisted by Niall Gregory, for Valerie J. Keeley Ltd.
Site type: Fulacht fia
Period/Dating: Bronze Age (2200 BC-801 BC)
ITM: E 666311m, N 711247m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.147608, -7.008723
Archaeological monitoring of topsoil-stripping during the drainage phase of ancillary works relating to the Kildare Town Bypass in the area of the proposed Mayfield Interchange, a part of the Monasterevin-Kildare Motorway Scheme N7, resulted in the identification of the site of a fulacht fiadh. Archaeological excavation of the site was carried out from 11 August to 14 September 1998.
The site initially consisted of a burnt area c. 30m2 and 0.1–0.15m deep. Features uncovered included stake-holes, some charcoal and a small quantity of burnt limestone. The main feature of the site was a trough/pit exhibiting a 50–80mm-thick wood lining, which extended throughout half of the trough. Five bone fragments, three of them charred, were found in the fill of the pit. It is suggested that there were three periods of use of the pit as a trough. However, the dimensions and shallowness of stratigraphy suggest that the site was used over a short period.
Burgage More, Blessington, Co. Wicklow and Duke Street, Athy, Co. Kildare
