Habitation site in Killickaweeny

An excavation (Licence no. 02E0995) was carried out at 'Site 18' before the proposed M4 Kinnegad-Enfield-Kilcock road development. The area of main archaeological potential was identified between the centre and the north-east corner of the site and consisted primarily of two north-south-aligned linear features, an irregularly shaped large pit and an area of burning. The larger of the two linear features extended across the middle of the site. It was 1.2-1.5m wide and a maximum of 0.3m deep; it was filled with redeposited subsoil and extended across the full width of the site, presumably continuing to the north and south of the excavation area. Occasional sherds of glazed medieval pottery were retrieved during excavation of this feature. It is possible that it represents an old field boundary, and its size and shape suggest that it is not part of a structure. The second linear feature was in the north-east corner of the site. It was 0.8m wide and a maximum of 0.5m deep and was filled with a compact clay that contained both medieval and post-medieval pottery. The feature was 10m long and extended beyond the northern limit of excavation. Its function is unclear. The area of burning had been half-sectioned during testing, and little extra information was gained through the excavation of the remainder of the feature. Its relationship with the other features, if any, is unclear. The irregularly shaped pit had a maximum width of 3.5m and a depth of 0.4m. It was filled with redeposited clay/subsoil. A large number of sherds of medieval pottery, consisting of unglazed coarse cooking ware, were found near the base of the pit. The differences in the typology of the pottery found in the features suggests that they may not be associated with one another. The redeposited material is possibly dump material from the excavation of the pit and/or the linear features. However, it is possible that this material and the general activity is directly associated with the possible industrial activity identified at 'Site 23', also excavated (Licence no. 02E1535), c. 50m to the north-east - see KD005-026----. (www.excavations.ie) Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 10 June 2011