County: Wicklow Site name: Coolinarrig Upper
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 23E0289
Author: Alan Hawkes
Site type: Charcoal-production site
Period/Dating: Late Medieval (AD 1100-AD 1599)
ITM: E 688605m, N 689702m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.950782, -6.681470
In 2023, a number of surface features were recorded on the northern slope of Tuckmill, Hill, near the town of Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow. The previously unknown and unrecorded sites are part of a group of at least seven broadly circular hollows, some with associated mounds, that were brought to our attention by the landowner. The hollows are situated in a sloping field of rough pasture. They range in size from 1.8–2.5m in diameter and are 0.4m deep on average. The hollows are concentrated in two distinct rows over an area of c.1.2ha. Two sites were subsequently sampled by excavation and confirmed to be charcoal-production sites of the ‘pit-kiln’ variety.
Both excavation trenches at Tuckmill Hill revealed large pits with in-situ deposits of lump charcoal, fuel residues and some charred plant remains. The upper sides of each of the pits also displayed evidence of intense heat. On the surface, near the edge of the pits, were additional spreads of charcoal residue, separated by deposits of soft clay forming small mounds; these layers are related to the opening of the earth covering and the clearing out of the pit over successive episodes of use.
6 Endsleigh Estate, Carrigaline, Cork
