County: Wicklow Site name: COOLBEG
Sites and Monuments Record No.: WI031–045 Licence number: A022/065, E3251
Author: Goorik Dehaene, for Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd.
Site type: Prehistoric site - lithic scatter and Pit
Period/Dating: Prehistoric (12700 BC-AD 400)
ITM: E 727723m, N 690562m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.950632, -6.099310
The site, in Coolbeg, c. 4km south-west of Wicklow town, comprised a single pit associated with possible ironworking and a ditch. The archaeological investigation was undertaken in March and April 2006 on behalf of the National Roads Authority on the route of the N11 Rathnew to Arklow road improvement. The site was located on level ground in the east of the constraint area for WI031–045, a flint scatter.
The site measured 20m by 20m. A single pit was located in the north, comprising an irregular oval cut (2.8m south-west/north-east by 1.78m by 0.39m) with fills containing charcoal and iron slag. An east–west-aligned ditch was located in the centre of the site. This ditch was also evident on site E3250 (see No. 2172, Excavations 2006). Sixteen artefacts were recovered, fifteen flint artefacts and a post-medieval pottery sherd.
Coolroe, Tinahely, Co. Wicklow
