2003:2083 - Site L, Charlesland, Wicklow

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Wicklow Site name: Site L, Charlesland

Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 03E1645

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

Site type: Burnt mound

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. Fourteen sites have been excavated to date. Excavation of Site L took place in October 2003.

Site L was located at the base of a gradual north-west-facing slope c. 10m to the east of a stream. Two areas of archaeological potential were exposed during topsoil-stripping, Trenches A and B.

Trench A measured 20m north-south by 18m. Two land drains and several plough furrows had severely truncated the archaeological deposits. The remains of a burnt mound with associated pits and post-holes were excavated. The mound measured 2.8m north-east/south-west by 2.5m.

Trench B was located c. 10m to the east of Trench A. It measured 28m north-south by 12m. A burnt mound measuring 3.8m north-south by 2.3m was identified in this trench. Three troughs were exposed beneath the mound. The largest trough had a large number of stake-holes directly to the east. A fragment of a saddle quern was found at the base of this trough.