County: Wicklow Site name: MAIN STREET/CHURCH ROAD, BALTINGLASS
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 04E1356
Author: Martin E. Byrne, Byrne Mullins & Associates, 7 Cnoc na GrŽine Square, Kilcullen, Co. Kildare.
Site type: No archaeological significance
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 686640m, N 688577m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.941000, -6.711000
It is proposed to construct a mixed-use development on lands located to the rear of Main Street and Church Road, Baltinglass, which are within the zone of archaeological potential for Baltinglass. As much of the site as possible was to be subjected to a programme of testing. This involved the excavation of seven trenches in the greenfield areas of the subject lands. All the trenches were excavated by a machine fitted with a wide toothless bucket. The trenches were c. 1.6m wide and were excavated to the surface of the underlying subsoil. In addition, a number of trial pits were excavated through the subsoil to confirm its sterile and undisturbed nature. Following machine excavation, the sides of the trenches were hand cleaned and examined for evidence of archaeological materials.
No features of archaeological interest were uncovered during the course of testing. However, a total of 25 sherds of pottery, of medieval and post-medieval appearance, were recovered. All the sherds were recovered from the topsoil of the field that forms the northern part of the proposed development site.
