- MADDENSTOWN MIDDLE, CO. KILDARE,, Kildare

Introduction
In September 1974, during digging operations on a farm, two inhumation burials were discovered near Kildare town, Co. Kildare. The two burials were found 0.9m below the topsod in the face of a pit, which was aligned on a north/south axis. The southernmost burial was very disturbed. The site was reported to Kildare Garda Síochána, who informed the NMI of the find. It was investigated the following day, 17 September, by Michael Ryan. The human bone (1974:92) was collected and brought back to the Museum to be analysed by Professor C. A. Erskine. This report is based on Ryan’s excavation report and on Erskine’s analysis of the human remains.

Location
The site was located on farmland in the townland of Maddenstown Middle, west Co. Kildare, 3km south of Kildare town.³⁰

Description of site
The graves consisted of shallow pits, 0.2–0.3m deep, filled with a light brown clay. The base of each grave lay at a depth of 0.9m below the modern ground level. The overlying stratigraphy is described as follows (from topsod down):
(i) sod and topsoil sealing a thin layer of limestone cobbles mixed with decayed granite;
(ii) a thick deposit of yellow clay.
Isolated fragments of bone occurred in the overlying deposits. At a point north of grave 2, between 0.1m and 0.3m below the surface, a patch of brick fragments mixed with mortar occurred. Its significance in the excavation was not possible to define. The pits may have originally been deeper, but ploughing may have disturbed the overburden so that this was no longer detectable. The thin layer of limestone cobbles is thought to have represented the remains of a farmyard or old laneway. It is likely that these burials were fully extended, but as the lower portion appeared to be cut away this is not certain.

Grave 1
This was the southernmost grave visible in the section. It consisted of an inhumation oriented north-west/south-east, with the head to the north-west. It was disarticulated by the time of Ryan’s visit, and no associated artefacts were found in the grave. It was very disturbed and disarticulated when examined, so it was not possible to obtain further information about the disposition of the interment. According to Sergeant Walsh, the remains had been further disturbed since his initial examination. The human remains were collected and brought to the NMI. The skull was identified by Professor Erskine as that of an adult female.

Grave 2
This was situated 1m north of grave 1, and the remains of three individuals were found in this area. The femora and pelvis were visible in section and these indicated that the head of at least one of the interred lay to the south-east. The bone represented three adults—two males and one female—and no accompanying artefacts were found.
Comment
In the absence of associated finds or other dating evidence these burials (1974:92) must be regarded as undated.

HUMAN REMAINS
C.A. ERSKINE

1974:92—piece of adult radius, ring finger metacarpal and long bone fragments; large fragments leg bones and ilium. Small fragments of ribs, vertebrae, hand and foot bones.

Burial 1
Well-preserved vault of skull of adult female. Ante-mortem loss of left molar.

Burial 2
Large number of fragments of three adult skeletons: two male, one female.

30. Parish of Ballysax, barony of Offaly East. OS 6in. sheet 27, exact location not recorded.