1999:900 - N11 NEWTOWNMOUNTKENNEDY/ BALLYNABARNEY ROAD IMPROVEMENT SCHEME, Wicklow

It is proposed to partially align the existing N11 and to construct a new road from Newtownmountkennedy (south of Killadreen td-OS 19) to Ballynabarney (OS 25). The area is characterised by the hilly ground of the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains on the western side and more gently rolling ground declining towards the sea to the east. The environmental impact statement prepared in relation to the proposed scheme identified a number of sites of archaeological interest within and in the immediate environs of the proposed route. It is suggested that many of these sites are possible fulachta fiadh. One of the recommended mitigation strategies in relation to the scheme was the archaeological monitoring of the excavation of trial-pits for engineering/geotechnical purposes. This work commenced on 1 November 1999.

Up to 220 trial-pit excavations, six of which revealed material of archaeological potential, mostly in the form of burnt material, were inspected up to 14 December 1999. In addition 27 flint pieces were recovered from fifteen additional trial-pits. Analysis of the flint by Nyree Finlay (pers. comm.) revealed that almost half of these pieces were considered to be natural pebbles or chunks. However, a number were identified as struck or potentially struck artefacts, as a result of either human or natural processes. Flint scatters have previously been identified in County Wicklow, in the Archaeological inventory of County Wicklow (Grogan, E. and Kilfeather, A. 1997). In addition an extensive lithic assemblage was recovered at Johnstown South by Martin Fitzpatrick (Excavations 1996, 116, 96E0156) during archaeological investigations undertaken as part of the Arklow Bypass.

Additional monitoring will be undertaken in January 2000, following which appropriate additional mitigation strategies will be suggested.

31 Millford, Athgarvan, Co. Kildare