County: Kildare Site name: M4 ENFIELD MOTORWAY SERVICE AREA, MARTINSTOWN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A048; E4006/7
Author: Stuart Elder, The Archaeology Company Ltd, Hamilton House, Emmet Street, Birr, Co. Offaly.
Site type: Burnt spread
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 674753m, N 740974m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.413593, -6.875556
Testing was carried out in February 2009, in advance of development works along the route of the M4 Enfield motorway service area at Martinstown, Co. Kildare. Only one feature of archaeological significance was identified, a burnt spread. Given the nature and extent of the burnt spread and the fact that it was the only feature identified within the area, the site was resolved at the testing phase of the works.
The feature was very shallow, with a maximum depth of 0.13m, and there was no trough or cut feature associated with it. It is possible that the feature was previously disturbed. The field boundary to the south-west contained the scattered remains of burnt-spread material. The feature, which consisted of a thin spread of heat-shattered stone, extended over an area 3.7m by 2.5m and was located adjacent to the southern boundary of the works area. There
was insufficient datable material to establish an absolute date for the feature.
