County: Kildare Site name: CURRYHILLS I
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 99E0569
Author: Martin E. Byrne
Site type: Pit
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 683710m, N 727809m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.293971, -6.744340
Topsoil-stripping associated with the Prosperous Sewerage Scheme, which had commenced before the preparation of the associated archaeological assessment report, revealed a distinct area of burning.
Clearance of the basal remains of topsoil cover across the site indicated that the site consisted of a localised area of burning. The feature was irregular in plan, with rounded corners, and measured up to 1.74m x 1.14m, with the long axis orientated north-west/south-east. There was evidence of scorched/ burnt soil along portions of the edges of the feature.
Removal of the charred material, which consisted of ash and charred/burnt wood fragments, revealed a depression in the subsoil. The extent of the depression coincided with the extent of the charred material. The depression was cut into the sloping subsoil, and the cut was very obvious on the south-east and north-east edges of the feature. These edges generally had a sharp break in slope with the base, while the break in slope along the remaining edges was not perceptible. The base itself was relatively flat, although it sloped from north-west to south-east. The feature had a maximum recorded depth of 0.13m.
A number of areas of scorched/burnt soil, orange/red, were revealed along portions of the edges and base of the feature.
The nature of the depression, with its rounded corners and the fact that it was cut into the sloping subsoil, indicates that the feature is not natural and is likely to be the basal remains of a pit. The fill indicated that it was used for burning. Furthermore, patches of scorched soil indicate that the heat intensity was irregular, hotter in some areas than others. Given the nature of the feature, it is probable that it is the truncated remains of a fire-pit.
A sample of the fill has been sent for wood analysis, after which it will be submitted for 14C dating. Furthermore, it is proposed to submit another sample of the fill for environmental analysis. It is hoped that the wood and environmental studies, coupled with the 14C dating, will determine the nature and function of the feature and help in establishing a context for the site in terms of the archaeology of the region as a whole.
31 Millford, Athgarvan, Co. Kildare
