Habitation site in Killincarrig

In 2010 an archaeological assessment, including geophysical survey (licence 10R0008) and testing, was undertaken by Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd. in advance of the construction of a distribution road at IDA Lands, Killincarrig, Greystones, Co. Wicklow. Test-trenching under licence No. 10E0025 took place from 26 January 2010, using a 20-tonne mechanical excavator equipped with a flat, toothless bucket. A total of 23 test-trenches (totalling 603 linear metres) were excavated across the proposed development area. The development area is currently formed by a large greenfield area located to the immediate east of the recently constructed Greystones relief road (R762). The archaeology uncovered on-site was all located on the higher ground where the ground level slopes away to the north and east. The remains on-site were spread over an area measuring 55m east–west by 25m. The archaeological features appeared to be clustered in two areas along the east–west-orientated section of the proposed road. The nature of the features (i.e. possible pits, post-holes, stake-holes and hearths) suggests that they represent the remains of a habitation site. The shallow nature of the features and the presence of several plough furrows indicate that the features have been heavily truncated by agricultural activity. The pottery uncovered from one of the features suggests a prehistoric date for the site. It is very possible that remains continue outside of the route corridor to the north and may form a part of the Bronze Age site excavated between 90m and 125m to the north-north-east (WI013–086 and WI013–085). Nothing of archaeological significance was noted in the north–south section of the proposed road. The geophysical survey suggested the presence of a substantial linear feature within this area, along with a number of potential archaeological features and trends, but nothing of archaeological significance was identified during testing. This would suggest that natural geology such as sand, gravel and stones, which were apparent within the subsoil through the testing exercise, were responsible for these anomalies. The site was excavated in March 2010 by Yvonne Whitty under the same licence number (www.excavations.ie). The results of this excavation were summarised as following;'Excavation at Killincarrig, Greystones was carried out in advance of the construction of a distributor road for an IDA business park. Three phases of fieldwork took place between 22 February and 27 May 2010. Three phases of activity were identified at Killincarrig. The focus of the early Neolithic activity was a structure at the northern limits of the excavation made up of a foundation slot-trench, seven post-holes and ten stake-holes. It is believed that more of this structure lies outside of the area of excavation to the north. The exact form of this structure is unclear. Another group of post-holes was excavated to the west of this structure. These appear to have been part of a further structure but again its form is unclear and further features may still lie outside of the area of excavation to the north. It is believed to be early Neolithic due to its proximity to the other structure, although none of the post-holes contained any dating evidence and the construction style appears to be very different, with no foundation trench present. The structures are believed to have been houses due to the high quantity of features containing domestic material found to the south of them. These features were made up of pits and post-holes. The post-holes did not appear to have been part of a structure. The purpose of the pits is unclear. Further features were excavated at the east of the site, including pits, post-holes, a stake-hole, a hearth and a number of spreads. Although some of these features are thought to be related to one another due to their proximity, their purpose is unclear. They are thought to be a result of domestic activity related to the structures. Early Neolithic pottery and flints were found in many of these features and so all are considered to be from this period. Two further early Neolithic pits were excavated at the south-west of the site. One appeared to have held a post at its northern end. It is unclear what phase of activity three further features to the north of these features were from. A single early/middle Bronze Age pit was excavated at the north of Area A between the two structures outlined above. Other features in the area may also be early/middle Bronze Age in date, but it is unclear which, if any, are. A single late Iron Age/early medieval hearth was excavated towards the south-west of Area A. Three features near to this hearth, including another hearth, may be related, although they may also be related to the early Neolithic activity recorded around the site. Further undated features, including a hearth, pits, post-holes and stake-holes, were excavated in Area B. The hearth had post- and stake-holes at its north-east and south-west sides and appeared to have been used for cooking or other domestic activities. Additional testing was carried out by Fintan Walsh beyond the wayleave of the proposed road in order to assess the extent of the archaeological features' (www.excavations.ie). Additional test-trenching was undertaken in advance of the construction of a distribution road at IDA Lands, Killincarrig, Greystones, Co. Wicklow. This additional phase of testing, which involved the excavation of six strategically placed test-trenches on either side of the area of excavation (within the footprint of the road), was undertaken to access the extent of archaeological deposits/features within the lands made available. Test-trenching took place on 28 April 2010, using a 13-tonne mechanical excavator equipped with a flat, toothless bucket. This phase of testing identified a concentration of archaeological features, similar to that identified and excavated within the excavation area, which were identified on the northern end of the excavation area and extend up to the limit of the lands made available. There were a number of features at the western end of the scheme, suggesting a concentration of archaeological activity in this area. These are likely to be similar in nature to those identified in the excavation area (charcoal-rich features with lithics and pottery). A small number of features at the western end of the scheme, to the south of the excavation area, may also indicate archaeological activity extending in this direction correlating with the increased occurrence of activity in this area indicated in the excavation area. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 15 August 2019