County: Kildare Site name: KILCULLENBRIDGE, Kilcullen
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 01E0485
Author: Martin E. Byrne
Site type: Cremation pit
Period/Dating: Prehistoric (12700 BC-AD 400)
ITM: E 684172m, N 709506m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.129446, -6.742241
Monitoring of topsoil-stripping associated with the first phase of a housing development on the northern bank of the River Liffey at Kilcullen revealed a complex of ash deposits. The complex was slightly downslope of the highest area of the development site and overlooked a bend in the river. Initial investigations indicated the presence of cremated bone on the surfaces of the deposits. Consequent excavation of the deposits revealed 22 pits, ranging from 0.05m to 0.22m deep. The pits were spread over an area measuring 8m by 7m, which was not enclosed.
Preliminary analysis of the pit fills indicated that almost all contained fragments of cremated bone. In addition, some pottery fragments and a small flint arrowhead were recovered from the fills.
Editor’s note: Though carried out in 2001, this excavation was not reported on in time for inclusion in the bulletin of that year.
31 Millford, Athgarvan, Co. Kildare
