2001:610 - CELBRIDGE INTERCHANGE, Kildare

Eighteen potential archaeological sites were found during monitoring of topsoil-stripping on the Celbridge Interchange, from April to December 2001. The scheme was approximately 4km in length and ran from Celbridge to Leixlip through gently undulating land with a mixture of arable, pasture and woodland. The southern part of the scheme runs through an area heavily influenced by 18th-century landscape design, with avenues, woodland and tree-lined field boundaries centred on the early 18th-century house at Castletown. The road scheme was divided into five sections: the Celbridge Link, the Interchange over the M4, the Hewlett Packard Link, the Northern Link and the ILP Link. On investigation, it was found that one site was non-archaeological. Sites 1, 3 and 5 were excavated under the monitoring licence (see Excavations 2001, Nos 649–51, for individual reports). In most areas the topsoil was removed by track machines using grading buckets. Bulldozers were used in areas where overhead power lines necessitated their use for safety reasons. The sites found are listed according to the townland they were found in.

Kilmacredock Upper
Site 6, NGR 297722.970E, 235431.500N
The site measured 7m by 12m and was visible as seven possible post-holes and a linear feature at monitoring stage. These were identified by charcoal flecks and burnt stone. It was resolved under licence number 01E0596 by Noel Dunne (summary not supplied).

Site 8, NGR 297726.430E, 235448.790N
This site measured 9m by 5m by 6m. At the monitoring stage it was visible as three pits and one trench or oval pit. Some charcoal and burnt bone were visible on the surface of the fills. A chunk of flint and two pieces of prehistoric pottery were also found. It was resolved under licence number 01E0596 ext. by Noel Dunne (summary not supplied).

Site 9, NGR 297838.273E, 235440.685N
This site was visible in section as a 4m stretch of burnt stone and charcoal between chainage 200 and 220, on the northern side of slip road no. 3. A 5m by 7m area was fenced off. It was resolved by Fiona Reilly (see Excavations 2001, No. 653).

Site 10, NGR 297882.190E, 235722.010N
This site, 13m by 20m, was identified as a possible fulacht fiadh. It consisted of a spread of burnt mound material, 17m by 8m, and a small pit to the south-west. It was resolved under licence number 01E0715 by Noel Dunne (summary not supplied).

Site 11, NGR 297986.510E, 235789.710N
This site was 8m by 18m. It was identified as a spread of burnt sandstone, soil and charcoal. Post-medieval pottery was found in the topsoil above the feature. It was resolved under licence number 01E0855 by Noel Dunne (summary not supplied).

Site 12, NGR 297981.360E, 235830.870N
This site measured 15m by 8m. Four concentrations of charcoal, possibly post-holes, formed an arc in the south-east of the area. One other lay to the north-west. They varied in diameter from 0.2m to 0.5m. It was resolved under licence number 01E0856 by Noel Dunne (summary not supplied).

Site 13, NGR 298071.72E, 235931.300N
This site was 11m by 16m. Fourteen areas of burnt stone or ash with charcoal in pits were identified at the monitoring stage. No overall pattern could be discerned. It was resolved under licence number 01E0960 by Noel Dunne (summary not supplied).

Castletown
Site 4, NGR 297709.120E, 235289.700N
The site measured roughly 35m by 30m. Three ditches were visible on discovery. In the western part of the site one was orientated north–south. A second was found in the centre of the site and was orientated east–west. The third was in the eastern part of the site and had a north–south orientation. Sixteen other features were concentrated in the centre of the site. It was resolved by Hilary Opie (see Excavations 2001, No. 609).

Site 7, NGR 297742.140E, 235338.650N
At monitoring stage this corn-drying kiln was visible as a line of flat stones and charcoal-flecked deposits. It was resolved by Gary Conboy (see Excavations 2001, No. 652).

Easton
Site 14, NGR 298176.979E, 236116.575N
This site was 2.5m by 4m. It was first seen in section on the eastern side of the deeper, central area of the excavated carriageway approximately 0.45m below present ground level. A portion of a flat-bottomed ditch (1.2m wide and 0.28m deep) running roughly south was identified. Its fill contained charcoal flecks and some scorched earth. A second deposit with charcoal flecks could be seen running parallel to the east. It was resolved by Fiona Reilly (see Excavations 2001, No. 641).

Site 15, NGR 298493.490E, 236524.720N
This site was 7m by 16m. It consisted of three areas of burnt stone and charcoal and was identified as a possible fulacht fiadh. It was resolved by Gary Conboy (see Excavations 2001, No. 640).

Collinstown
Site 16, NGR 2986648.770E, 236784.72N
This site was 33m by 19m. It consisted of a possible hearth with post-holes close by, a large ditch and several possible pits. Most of the features were concentrated in the northern sector. It was resolved under the same licence as Site 17 by Fiona Reilly (see Excavations 2001, No. 625).

Site 17, NGR 298631.250E, 236739.200N
This site was 6m by 4m. Two charcoal-rich deposits were visible and together formed a bottle-shaped feature. It was suggested that it was a kiln of some sort. It was resolved by Fiona Reilly (see Excavations 2001, No. 625).

Site 18, NGR 298415.069E, 236781.429N
This site was 10m by 10m. Two linear, parallel stone lines and three charcoal-flecked deposits were visible during monitoring. It was thought to be a kiln. It was resolved by Fiona Reilly (see Excavations 2001, No. 626).

In summary, eighteen possible sites were found during topsoil-stripping on the Celbridge Interchange. Seventeen proved to be archaeological while one, Site 2, was natural.

Wood Road, Cratloekeel, Cratloe, Co. Clare