2005:1707 - KILPEDDER EAST/DRUMMIN EAST/BROMLEY, Wicklow

Testing and excavation along the western section of the Greystones Southern Access Route (GSAR), linking with the N11 at Kilpedder, took place between 25 May and 10 June 2005. The existing section of the GSAR, constructed in 2004, is a dual carriageway, 2.24km long, traversing the townlands of Farrankelly, Priestsnewtown and Kilpedder East, located around 2km south of the village of Delgany and 2km north-west of Kilcoole. The route follows a curving line extending between the R761 Greystones to Kilcoole road to the east and stopping c. 450m short of the N11 Dublin–Wexford road to the west. The completion of the GSAR is being carried out in two phases. The first phase involves the construction of a temporary southbound link to the N11; the second phase comprises the construction of a permanent interchange at Kilpedder, including the provision of an underpass.

Monitoring and excavations carried out along the line of the GSAR between January and April 2004 revealed twenty separate sites of greatly varying scale and archaeological significance (Sites 1–20). The sites were located in the townland of Priestsnewtown, with the exception of Site 14 (Farrankelly) and Sites 17 and 18 in Kilpedder East. Site 6 was the most significant discovered, highlighted by a circular slot-trench relating to a substantial Late Bronze Age structure, and a number of associated cremation burials placed in large upright ceramic vessels (see Excavations 2004, No. 1883, 04E0401).

The methodology adopted for the archaeological mitigation of the construction of the GSAR/N11 temporary link was that of testing by topsoil-stripping. This method aimed to remove, under supervision, the topsoil from the entire area contained by the road-take of the GSAR link. As the topsoil was stripped, features and deposits of archaeological potential would be identified and cordoned off by the archaeological team. Small or isolated features or deposits were to be excavated under the testing licence. Larger sites or complexes of features were to be excavated under separate excavation licences. By this means, it was expected that the line of the GSAR/N11 link would be resolved before the commencement of construction work.

The route of the temporary link followed the curved line of Kilpedder Stream, traversing five fields (Fields 1–5). Fields 1 and 2 were located in the townland of Bromley, to the south of Kilpedder Stream. Field 3 was located north of the stream, in Drummin East. Field 4, at the existing western limit of the GSAR, was located in Kilpedder East. Field 5, Bromley townland, was located along the eastern edge of the N11. A wide area separating Fields 1 and 2 contained a large tip of fragmented stone and tarmac, stored there by the operators of the adjacent quarry, and this section of the route could not be tested. The stripping of Fields 1 and 2 revealed the presence of substantial volumes of redeposited clay and stone fill below the topsoil. Consequently, it was decided that a series of test-pits should be excavated in both fields to determine if possible the nature and depth of the subsoil. No features or deposits of archaeological significance were discovered during the excavation of the test-pits in Fields 1 and 2.

The stripping of Field 3, on the northern side of Kilpedder Stream (Drummin East), was successfully carried out and revealed a number of deposits of charcoal-rich clay associated with fragments of burnt sandstone. This material was designated Site 21 of the GSAR, and was excavated in full under the test excavation licence. The stripping of Field 4 revealed no features or deposits of archaeological significance. Field 5, a narrow margin along the edge of the N11, could not be stripped in its entirety due to lack of space, but two test strips and a test-pit were excavated to the surface of the subsoil. A single small pit of possible archaeological origin (Site 22) was investigated under the test excavation licence.

Altogether, Site 21 in Field 3 (Drummin East) comprised eleven cut features (pits of varying size, and a post-hole cut into the edge of one of the larger pits) and thirteen distinct fills/deposits associated with the cuts. The features were spread over a distance of c. 110m along the length of the road-take in Field 3, and between c. 5–15m north of the line of Kilpedder Stream. It is evident from the presence of burnt-sandstone fragments in ten of the identified fills that Site 21 probably comprises the levelled remains of at least one ancient cooking site, or fulacht fiadh. A number of comparable sites were found on the northern bank of Kilpedder Stream, in Priestsnewtown, along the route of the existing section of the GSAR: Sites 1 and 2, c. 550m south-east of Site 21; Site 19, c. 300m south-east of Site 21; and a limited burnt-stone spread, possibly the fill of a pit (Site 20), identified c. 45m east of Site 19. Two decortical flakes detached from flint cores were recovered from the C5 fill of cut C9, possibly a trough, which provide evidence for the industrial working of local supplies of flint in the vicinity of Site 21.

Site 22 comprised a single cut, discovered in Test-trench 2 in Field 5 (Bromley). The cut measured 0.72m long (east–west) by 0.59m and 0.24m deep. The fill consisted of loose grey/brown sandy silt containing frequent small stones and occasional pockets of charcoal. Due to the constricted nature of the road-take in Field 5, it was not possible to extend the limits of the test-trench to the east to check for the presence of any archaeological material related to the pit.

A number of recommendations were made following the conclusion of this phase of work on the GSAR, including the testing of the area between Fields 1 and 2, and monitoring of groundwork in certain other areas of the temporary and permanent GSAR links.

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