County: Kildare Site name: Site 2, Littleconnell, Newbridge, Co. Kildare
Sites and Monuments Record No.: KD023-123 Licence number: 16E0466
Author: Jon Stirland, Will O'Siorain, Ian Russel and Robert Breen
Site type: Bronze Age
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 682146m, N 715752m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.185876, -6.770915
As alluded to within the geophysical survey report the test trenching identified the presence of a large number of sand and gravel deposits formed by glacial alluvial streams; these glacial alluvial streams formed during the last glaciation and are an extensive network of curving sand and gravel deposits through the site of the proposed development. These glacial alluvial streams take the form of converging and curving bands of sand and gravel that range in width from 3m to 20m. Five sections were excavated through these curving bands of sand and gravel, and they were seen to closely resemble profiles of archaeological and non-archaeological ditches. It was noted that during the excavation of a small number of sections through these glacial alluvial streams, that the glacial deposits overlay underlying bands of peat at depths of 2.1m to 2.6m below the current ground level; these deposits located below the bands of glacial sand and gravel appear to represent land surfaces dating back to interglacial periods.
During the test trenching the three field boundaries identified during the geophysical survey were also recorded. Sections were excavated through these linear features and all three field boundaries were identified as modern agricultural ditches, once associated with smaller agricultural field systems. Within all three boundary ditches modern land drain pipes were identified at their bases.
The test trenching also identified the site of a burnt stone spread (F125), (fulacht fiadh) and the site of a 17th/18th-century brick kiln F055, F56. The burnt stone spread appears to represent the ploughed-out remains of a fulacht fiadh; no evidence of an associated burnt stone mound was identified within the plough soil. This burnt stone spread is irregular in plan with an area of 4m by 2.4m and its general overall plan may be considered roughly horse-shoe shaped. An area 10m x 10m was stripped of topsoil around the spread of burnt stone and no further features were recorded.
The possible 17th/18th-century brick kiln comprises of two linear features containing fragments of red brick throughout and evidence of in-situ burning.
Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit, Unit 21 Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co Louth
