County: Wicklow Site name: Coolbeg
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A022/069, E3255
Author: Goorik Dehaene, Coolroe, Tinahely, Co. Wicklow, for Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd.
Site type: Prehistoric activity
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 727787m, N 690686m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.951730, -6.098310
This site, on level ground c. 4km south-west of Wicklow town, comprised a possible structure, a pit and stake-holes. The archaeological investigation was undertaken in March to May 2006 on behalf of the National Roads Authority on the route of the N11 Rathnew to Arklow road improvement. The site is c. 100m north-east of the constraint area for WI031–045, a flint scatter.
The area opened measured 40m by 40m. A pit with a rounded cut and a single fill was located in the centre of the site. A possible round hut structure was located in the north of this site. The feature comprised a cut with a single fill. In all, 31 stake-holes were located across the site. These did not present an identifiable structure. The possible structure and most of the stake-holes were within a natural depression, up to 23m (east–west) by 14m, and up to 0.45m deep and filled with a single fill. A deposit of charcoal and burnt bone was identified on the surface of this deposit.
A total of 30 finds were recovered from this site. All comprise flints, with the exception of one sherd of salt-glazed post-medieval pottery.
