2018:781 - Sites 3 - 5 Littleconnell, Newbridge, Kildare

Archaeological excavation was carried out on the site of a proposed new Distribution Warehouse with access from a new distributer road linking the R445 and Great Connell in the townlands of Littleconnell and Clownings, Newbridge, Co. Kildare.

Three archaeological sites were excavated. Sites 3 and 5 represented a burnt stone spread or fulacht fiadh with associated pits or troughs and Site 4 represented the remains of a 17th/18th-century brick kiln.

Site 3: Burnt Spread: The sod and topsoil (C300) consisted of a dark brown sandy clay. It measured 0.32m in thickness and lay above the natural orange boulder clay (C301). One burnt stone spread (C302) and one oval trough (C303) were identified. Charcoal recovered from the fill (C304) of the trough was identified as 0.55g of alder and returned a radiocarbon date of 4450 +/-40 BP, calibrated 3350-2900BC indicating it was in use during the Neolithic period.

Site 4: Brick Kilns: The sod and topsoil (C400) consisted of a dark brown sandy clay. It measured 0.32m in thickness and lay above the natural orange boulder clay (C401). One post-hole (C402) and seven foundation walls (C404, C405, C406, C407, C408, C409 &C410) for the heat tunnels of 17th/18th-century brick kilns were exposed.

Site 5: Burnt Spread: The sod and topsoil (C500) consisted of a dark brown sandy clay. It measured 0.32m in thickness and lay above the natural orange boulder clay (C501). One burnt stone spread (C502), one pit (C503), two troughs (C505 & C507) and 26 stake-holes (C514–C539) were identified. Charcoal recovered from the fill (C540) of the trough (C505) was identified as 0.3g of hazel and returned a radiocarbon date of 4860+/-40 BP, calibrated 2500-2200BC indicating it was in use during the Early Bronze Age.

All three sites have been fully excavated and the proposed development should proceed as planned.

Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit, Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co Louth