2004:1872 - KILPEDDER EAST (GSAR Sites 17/17A–B and 18), Wicklow

Site 17 was located in Field 12 of the GSAR, Chainage 480–520, and consisted of two areas of charcoal-enriched clay deposited on sandy brown subsoil. These both measured c. 1.8m by 0.9m. There was a separate smaller patch of charcoal-enriched clay, measuring c. 1.2m by 0.5m. Site 17a was a limited area adjacent to the northern fence line that revealed the presence of charcoal on the surface of the subsoil. Site 17b contained a shallow linear feature measuring 2.9m long (east-west) by 0.6m wide. The associated fill was crumbly brown clay with lumps of charcoal. There was also a separate area of sandy grey/brown clay with lumps of charcoal and stones, measuring c. 0.9m in diameter. On investigation, all these features turned out to be of no archaeological significance.

Site 18 was located in the same field, Chainage 583-590, and was identified as three small areas of soft, charcoal-enriched clay measuring c. 0.25m by 0.65m, 1.2m by 1.3m and 0.5m by 0.35m. The subsoil was pale-brown sand. One of the deposits contained a small sherd of medieval coarseware pottery. Despite the presence of the potsherd, the features on furtherinvestigation were found not to be of archaeological interest and, like the Sites 17/17a–b material, appeared to represent evidence for field clearance work of relatively recent origin.