County: Wicklow Site name: THREECASTLES, Crosscoolharbour
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 22E0370
Author: Laurence Dunne
Site type: Pit
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 700784m, N 716213m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.186815, -6.492000
Licensed archaeological testing at Threecastle, Co. Wicklow was undertaken in July 2022 with regards to constructing a solar PV panel array. Twenty-four linear test trenches (T1-T24) with a total meterage of c.590m were opened on the footprint of the proposed groundworks. Stratigraphy was very similar in all trenches comprising of an average depth of 0.3-0.4m of mid brown topsoil overlaying yellow/orange silty sandy clay subsoil with small stone inclusions. Nothing of archaeological interest was noted in twenty-three trenches (T1-T11 and T13-T24).
Archaeological features, comprising of two possible small pits, were recorded in T12. The immediate area around the features was expanded to expose the limits of the archaeology. The results of the test trench expansion revealed an additional larger feature.
After submitting the testing report and revised Method Statement to National Monument Service (NMS) a licence extension was received to excavate the area of archaeology and three additional test trenches (T25-T27) on a proposed new temporary compound area at the western limits of the proposed solar farm (PSF) in the adjoining townland of Crosscoolharbour.
Additional testing and excavation took place in September 2023. Three north-west/south-east orientated test trenches T25-T27 (60m long each) were excavated at the proposed new temporary site compound area at Crosscoolharbour. Nothing of archaeological interest was recorded. A sub-rectangular area measuring 8m (north-south) by 6.5m was re-opened at the location of archaeological features found during testing. In total five features were recorded within the area: four pits and a small spread. The most prominent feature within the area was amorphous pit C.3 (1.8m by 1m, max depth: 0.4m) containing a charcoal-rich fill at the base. A flint blade was recovered from its surface during testing and additionally five more lithics and a possible rubbing stone were recovered from the charcoal-rich fill.
C. 1.5m south-east from the pit a sub-oval area comprising of charcoal-rich splodges and some heat-shattered stone within in-situ reddened clay matrix was recorded during testing. It was preliminary interpreted as one large feature. Excavation of this area revealed that it comprised of three separate smaller amorphous features/pits and one small spread of dark grey and black material with some charcoal inclusions. Two lithics were recovered during surface cleaning of this part of the area.
Post-ex analysis is currently in progress.
3 Lios na Lohart, Ballyvelly, Tralee Co. Kerry
