Recent Excavations of Charcoal Production Platforms in the Glendalough Valley, Co. Wicklow

This paper presents the results of recent archaeological excavations in Lugduff townland, Co. Wicklow - a location better known as the Upper Lake, Glendalough. Excavations in 2009 targeted charcoal production sites on the southern valley slopes overlooking the lake. These have provided important data about the nature and timing of charcoal production and the associated woodland resource in the valley. We begin by presenting a background to charcoal production in Glendalough, before summarising the results of the excavations, presenting details of the charcoal analysis and closing with a discussion of the landscape implications of our work, especially in terms of the recent woodland history of Glendalough.