County: Wicklow Site name: CHARLESLAND (Site CA1)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: WI013-079---- Licence number: 03E0592
Author: Bernice Molloy, Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd.
Site type: Burnt mound
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 729592m, N 710291m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.127390, -6.063590
This site was exposed during monitoring of topsoil-stripping prior to the construction of a dual carriageway between the R671 and Greystones. The road is part of a larger residential and industrial development planned for the area. Monitoring commenced in December 2002. To date, fourteen sites have been excavated. Excavation took place between 22 April and 8 May 2003. The overall area of excavation measured 16m (east-west) by 14m.
A burnt mound was excavated measuring c. 14m east-west by 11.5m. It was truncated by ploughing and survived to a maximum depth of 0.2m. Four troughs were exposed beneath the mound. A number of post-holes and stake-holes were found in association with the troughs.
Three of the troughs were cut into natural subsoil and were very shallow in depth. One trough had a very substantial and complex wooden lining and was almost 1m in depth. Two timber planks formed the base of the trough. These timbers appear to have been reused, as there were a number of dowel holes in the planks that had no function within the trough. The eastern and western sides of the trough were composed of roundwoods. The northern and southern edges were composed of a single plank. These planks were held in place by pegs placed in the corner. A wattle lining was excavated around the edge of the cut and was stratigraphically earlier than the wooden lining. A possible musical instrument was found at the base of the trough. It was very deliberately placed over the timber planks at the base of the trough and was very well preserved.
2 Killiney View, Albert Road Lower, Glenageary, Co. Dublin