Excavation — miscellaneous in Killadreenan

Testing was undertaken at Killadreenan, Co. Wicklow, on the site of a proposed borrow pit (Borrow Pit 11) associated with the N11 Road Scheme. An archaeological impact statement prepared by ADS Ltd on the sites of five proposed borrow pits, including Borrow Pit 11, identified a cropmark from an aerial photograph. The cropmark was described as a double circular feature on rising ground in the east of the field. Nineteen trenches were excavated across the site. Archaeological material was uncovered in six areas. Area 1 was in the south-east of the proposed development site and comprised a possible pit measuring c. 2m in diameter. Area 2 comprised four possible pit features consisting of dark brown clays with charcoal inclusions. One of these potential pits contained prehistoric pottery of possible Bronze Age date. Area 3 was in the approximate location of the cropmarks highlighted in the aerial survey. A negative anomaly was noted along the slope of the hill in this area, which on further investigation seemed to be of modern origin, although its full vertical extent or function could not be ascertained. Approximately 15m north of this a series of features and deposits occupied an area of 10m by 2m within the confines of the trench. The remains in this area seemed to represent more intensive archaeological activity than was recorded in subsequent trenches. Area 4 comprised an irregularly shaped spread of heat-fractured stone and charcoal-rich clay that measured c. 7m east–west. This seemed to be fairly shallow. A possible rectangular pit feature was noted immediately to the east of this. Area 5 comprised three linear (possibly agricultural) features and three circular pit features. Area 6 comprised a number of north–south- and east–west-oriented linear features and three possible pits. Many of the north–south-oriented features were probably of agricultural origin. The two east–west-oriented linear features recorded may be continuations of features found by Angus Stephenson in an adjacent excavation (No. 1970 below, 02E0735), also part of the N11 Road Scheme (Bennett 2004, 535). Date of upload: 01 October 2012