County: Kildare Site name: CASTLEFARM
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 32:28 Licence number: 95E0209
Author: Clare Mullins
Site type: Enclosure
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 677833m, N 700633m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.050680, -6.839083
Trial-trenching was undertaken on 21–22 September, as part of an archaeological evaluation study. Planning permission for a private dwelling house and ancillary works at the site was sought from Kildare County Council and was deferred pending a number of stipulations, one of which concerned the possible archaeological sensitivity of the site.
There was no visible evidence of any identifiable archaeological features on the site, although Taylor's map of 1783 shows an elevated earthwork that encompasses a considerable area, mainly to the west of the proposed development area, but whose eastern extremity swings through, or slightly west of, the site. Taylor also indicates the ruins of a castle within the area of the earthwork, although there are no indications on any OS maps for either the castle or the earthwork.
A total of seven trenches were opened by machine within the development site. The locations of these trenches were chosen both to assess the impact of the development and also to give a more general picture of the archaeological potential of the site. The combined length of the trenches was 126m; all were 1.2m wide and were dug to a depth of 0.2–0.3m below the surface of the sterile 'natural' subsoil. No evidence of a motte or castle foundations, the original reason for the suspected archaeological sensitivity of the site, was uncovered. However, a substantial ditch feature was revealed in the three northernmost trenches. The average width of the ditch was 3m (top), it was slightly funnel-shaped in profile and had an average depth of 1.4m. It contained three fills, which produced fragments of bone, oyster and charcoal flecks. The level at the top of the ditch ranged from 125.5m to 127.98m OD (Malin). The ditch feature appears to form an arc, curving eastwards through the development site, with its western extremity coinciding with the western property boundary of the site.
A possible bowl furnace was also uncovered in the central eastern area of the site. It was 0.69m wide (top), with gentle sides sloping to a rounded base. It was 0.34m deep and contained two fills, the lower of which contained ash and charcoal flecks. The edges of the cut had evidence of in situ burning. The upper level of this feature was 126.021m OD. The remains of a small quarry pit were also uncovered in the central zone of the proposed development area. A number of fills within the backfilled quarry cut may represent archaeological sediments which accumulated after the quarry was abandoned.
Further careful monitoring of the remaining trench excavations, combined with detailed examination of the sections, did not reveal any further features of archaeological significance.
39 Kerdiff Park, Monread, Naas, Co. Kildare
