County: Kildare Site name: PITCHFORDSTOWN (Site 13 (Site AE30))
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 02E0998
Author: Tim Coughlan, IAC Ltd.
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 685689m, N 739892m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.402211, -6.711399
An excavation was carried out before the proposed M4 road development on the site of a possible fulacht fiadh at Pitchfordstown, Co. Kildare, from 10 to 13 September 2003.
A desk-based assessment was included in the environmental impact statement. Site AE30 was identified as a series of cultivation ridges. The assessment recommended that site-specific testing be carried out in this area. Additionally, a programme of linear testing was undertaken by Dermot Nelis between 11 February and 10 April 2002 in all areas of road-take before the start of construction works (No. 908, Excavations 2002, 02E0141). Site-specific testing (No. 980, Excavations 2002, 02E0147) on Site AE30 was carried out by Dermot Nelis on 5 and 6 May 2002. The linear testing revealed a horseshoe-shaped spread of burnt stone in the north-western corner of Site AE30. The site was interpreted as a fulacht fiadh. Testing failed to reveal any remains or datable artefacts associated with the cultivation ridges, although, like with other cultivation ridges in the area, it is suggested that these relate to relatively recent farming practices. It was recommended that the fulacht fiadh be fully excavated before construction works.
The excavation of Site 13 opened an area of 20m by 20m. It became apparent that the possible fulacht fiadh represented a burnt-out tree stump. A number of modern plough furrows and a drainage channel were also identified. Nothing of archaeological significance was revealed during the excavation.
8 Dungar Terrace, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin
