2001:1380 - RATHMORE, Wicklow

An extensive burnt mound complex was excavated at Rathmore, Co. Wicklow, in advance of construction of the N11 Newtownmountkennedy to Ballynabarny dual carriageway. The complex spanned a length of c. 800m and eighteen burnt mounds were excavated within the line of the road, while several more are visible outside the road-take.

The mounds were situated beside a small stream which runs roughly north–south alongside the existing N11. These mounds, the majority of which covered a single subrectangular trough, varied greatly in size and shape. Apart from the presence of stake-holes around several of the troughs, few other features were identified.

The largest mound, which measured 35m by 20m, contained the subsoil-cut remains of three subrectangular features, at least two of which may be interpreted as troughs. One of these features had large wooden posts, c. 0.4m in diameter, set into its corners. The remains of a flat plank were recovered from its basal fills. Three other timber-lined features were excavated, two of which were interpreted as troughs; the third was a shallow cut containing a pair of 2m-long pieces of oak set around a spring. An interesting stone feature, which may have functioned as a trough, was excavated beneath one of these larger mounds. It consisted of upright stones set into a subrectangular cut. Trough size throughout the sites varied, but the average dimensions were 1.75m in length and 1m in width. Several had small post-holes dug into the corners, suggesting that they may have been timber-lined at some point.

The height of the mounds varied from ploughed-out spreads at subsoil level to the larger mounds which measured up to 1m in height. The few artefacts which were recovered appear to suggest a Bronze Age date for the complex: flint scrapers and flakes, a flint knife and a possible fragment of later Bronze Age ring-money. A few fragments of slag were also recovered.

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