County: Wicklow Site name: KILOUGHTER
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 9:24 Licence number: 00E0490
Author: Rob Lynch, Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd.
Site type: Industrial site
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 728698m, N 699601m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.031591, -6.081201
An assessment of a proposed single-storey dwelling and associated services, at Killoughter, Co. Wicklow, was undertaken between 10 and 14 July 2000. The foundation trenches of the dwelling had been excavated without an archaeological presence on site. Once the client became aware of the archaeological condition placed on the development, our offices were contacted with a view to assessing the archaeological potential of the site.
The site was visited in order to inspect the level of excavation and to determine whether any archaeological material was exposed in any of the sections. A foundation trench 1m wide and 0.7m deep had been excavated around the perimeter of the proposed dwelling (which measured 11m north–south x 8m). In addition to this, a further east–west-orientated foundation trench, 8m long and 0.7m deep, had been excavated through the centre of the floor-plan. A perpendicular foundation trench had been excavated at the centre point on the northern side of the central foundation. This was c. 3.5m long, 1m wide and 0.7m deep.
Upon inspection it was apparent that significant medieval deposits had been disturbed within the central area of the proposed dwelling and that these deposits spread over an area c. 5.3m east–west x 5m. These deposits were concentrated within several cut features that may have formed part of a large trapezoidal structure. The production of lime on the site, coupled with several burnt deposits, suggests that it may have been industrial in nature.
The main phase of activity on site was represented by the accumulation of at least 0.3m of medieval stratigraphy in the central area. All of these deposits were confined within two to three cut features. A large, burnt, rectangular cut, C15, orientated north-west/south-east, which cut natural geology, was recorded between 0.2m (east) and 0.5m below PGL. It was located in the central part of the easternmost foundation trench, where it ran beyond the limit of the development. Both exposed edges of the pit were lined by a thin layer of charcoal and had been fire-reddened through intense burning.
The second major cut feature recorded, C17, at the western end of the central foundation trench, was orientated north-east/south-west and cut natural geology. It was recorded at a point 0.3m below PGL. Its full extent was not clear as it had been completely removed during the excavation of the north–south foundation trench to the north of the central trench. A spread of archaeological clays suggested that C17 extended north to a point where it met another truncated cut, C25, which had been almost completely removed during the excavation of the foundation trenches.
The fact that all the medieval stratigraphy was contained within C15, C17 and C25 would imply that they functioned as retaining features. Whether they formed a single structure remains unclear.
In summary, it can be stated that the site at Killoughter had been formally occupied during the medieval period. This activity was concentrated within several cut features that may have formed part of a larger, trapezoidal structure. The production of lime on the site, coupled with several burnt deposits, suggests that it may have been industrial in nature. A fuller interpretation of the site would be aided by further hand-excavation.
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