2003:2078 - Site G, Charlesland, Wicklow

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Wicklow Site name: Site G, Charlesland

Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 03E0196

Author: Bernice Molloy, Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd, 2 Killiney View, Albert Rd Lower, Glenageary, Co. Dublin.

Site type: Prehistoric

Period/Dating:

ITM: E 729198m, N 710156m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.126276, -6.069514

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 of Site G took place on 3-18 February 2003. The overall area of excavation measured 20m by 20m.

Site G produced evidence for a possible enclosure in the form of an unroofed structure. A curving circular single line of post-holes enclosed an area measuring 8m (north-south) by 7.4m. The post-hole spacing varied between 1.5 and 0.6m apart. The post-holes varied in size between 0.4 and 0.15m. There was no evidence for a central supporting post-hole. Given this fact, combined with the spacing and size of the post-holes, it is unlikely that this structure was roofed.

A sunken hearth and a series of intercutting pits were located directly to the south of the possible structure, in which a large quantity of charred cereal grains was found. A quern stone was found on the surface c. 4m from the western edge of the structure.