County: Wicklow Site name: SITE 29, COOLBEG
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 03E1038
Author: Patricia Lynch, 27 Hilltown Way, Swords, Co. Dublin, for Archaeological Development Services Ltd.
Site type: Early medieval
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 727085m, N 690760m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.952565, -6.108720
Excavation took place in the townland of Coolbeg during the course of the road improvement scheme for the N11 between Newtownmountkennedy and Ballynabarney Co. Wicklow. The site was identified during monitoring by Damian Finn of a slip road (Excavations 2003, No. 2087, 02E0268 ext.) and a large area of archaeological potential was identified, apparently of prehistoric date. It was excavated during June-July 2003.
The excavated remains spread from the south of the site to the north of a shallow rectangular pit. A shallow sub-oval pit was located 4.5m to the east. A spread of possible burnt-mound material was found 4.35m to the north of the latter pit. Two adjacent hearths with evidence of in situ burning were located c. 12m to the north of the spread of burnt-mound material. Burnt bone was recovered from one of the pits. A ditch with a rounded terminus, F4, was located 6.4m to the north of both hearths. Two semicircular spreads that contained burnt bone were located c. 30m to the north of F4. Two post-holes were identified beneath these features.
A group of pits and post-holes was located 1.5m to the north of the semicircular spread. One of these features contained a decorated bone fragment. The pits and post-holes all contained charcoal-enriched soil and heat-shattered stone. Burnt animal bone was also present in many of these features.
The most prominent feature, F9, was located at the most northerly part of the site. This consisted of a steep-sided ditch that contained burnt animal bone, charcoal and heat-shattered stone. There was no evidence of in situ burning. A fragment of quernstone and a possible base were recovered from this feature. It is possible that F4 is a continuation, and possible causeway, of F9. F4 was located to the south of F9.
Eight modern field drains also bisected the site.
Finds and features in this area suggest human settlement and activity during the Early Christian/early medieval period.
Editor's note: Though carried out in 2003, this summary was received too late for inclusion in the bulletin of that year.
