County: Wicklow Site name: COOLAGAD
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 05E0522
Author: Martin E. Byrne, Byrne Mullins & Associates
Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 727313m, N 712971m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.152018, -6.096553
It is proposed to construct a discount foodstore, retail/office units and a sports/leisure centre, all with associated car parking and landscaping works, at a site located in the townland of Coolagad, on the northern outskirts of Greystones. A possible earthwork feature was previously noted by Chris Corlett as being within the boundaries of the subject lands. Consequently, it was recommended that an archaeological impact assessment of the overall site should be prepared. In addition, it was a requirement that such assessment should include a programme of testing.
A total of nine trenches were excavated, six by machine in the general environs of, and three by hand within the area of archaeological potential. No features of archaeological potential were uncovered. The investigations within the area of archaeological potential indicated that the existing surface of much of the area in question had previously been subjected to the dumping of soil and that this may account for the surface feature. In addition, investigations within the area of archaeological potential, which is located in a relatively low-lying area adjacent to a stream, revealed a layer of dry organic sandy silt/peaty material. It is suggested that this indicates that the area may have been marshy in previous times. A number of clay-pipe stems and sherds of pottery, all of 19th–20th-century date, were recovered. In addition, three small nodules of flint, none of which had any diagnostic features of past usage, were also recovered.
7 Cnoc na Gréine Square, Kilcullen, Co. Kildare
