2001:627 - CORBALLY, Kildare

The Brownstown quarry site, which includes the townlands of Corbally, Brownstown and Silliot Hill, is located in an area that shows extensive evidence for settlement during the Neolithic and Bronze Age. Prehistoric sites were unearthed in this area during quarrying work in the 19th and 20th centuries and continue to be exposed to the present day. This situation was highlighted in 1997 by the discovery by Avril Purcell of the substantial remains of three Neolithic houses and additional prehistoric features during the course of monitoring of topsoil removal in advance of the present pit development (Excavations 1997, No. 263; Excavations 1998, No. 306, 97E0449).

A further extension to the existing pit development was commenced in December 2000. This extension, under the original planning application, projects into the field west of the three Neolithic house sites. In the course of topsoil-stripping, 24 areas of archaeological potential were identified, including the remains of a rectangular prehistoric structure. Features to the northern extremity of this extension (A10), covered by licence no. 01E0153 (see Excavations 2001, No. 629), would appear to be the severely truncated remains of a Neolithic structure. The rectangular structure (A4) has since been excavated (House 4; see Excavations 2001, No. 630) and is of Neolithic date.

More recent work over this same area has identified remains of a further two prehistoric structures. Features of a later date have also been revealed; these include possible enclosures and a group of cereal-drying kilns. Field-walking over the lands adjacent to the present extension suggests that archaeological deposits extend beyond the limits of the extension.

2 Killiney View, Albert Road Lower, Glenageary, Co. Dublin