Charcoal-making site in Hardwood

Situated in a gently undulating landscape. An area of sub-surface archaeological features was identified by Ian Russell in centre-line testing (02E0108) for the M4 Dublin to Galway motorway and set aside as Hardwood 2. Excavation (02E1140) revealed one trapezoidal (dims 1.7m x 0.9-1.5m; D 0.2m), one circular (diam. c. 1.45m; D 012m) and three rectangular (dims 1.8m x 0.9m; D 0.18m: 2.2m x 1.2m; D c. 0.1m: 2.4m x 1.4m; D 0.25m) pits cut into the subsoil. They contained large proportions of charcoal and the surrounding clay was oxidized leading to their interpretation as charcoal-making pits and hearths. Only one stray piece of flint was found and a charcoal sample produced a radiocarbon date of Cal AD 1020-1210, but the context is not recorded. (Murphy 2004, 7) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 13 August 2019