1997:086 - NANGOR CASTLE/GRANGE CASTLE, KILMAHUDDRICK, CLONDALKIN, Dublin

Test-trenching was carried out along the line of a proposed road leading northwards from the vicinity of the now-demolished Nangor Castle to Grange Castle, within the area of a proposed industrial park. This was the second phase of testing, the first phase having concentrated on the field to the immediate south of Nangor Castle and its general vicinity.

An intensive geophysical survey had been carried out along the line of the proposed road and several anomalies were identified. This testing specifically examined the areas of anomalies, as agreed on with the relevant authorities within the National Monuments Service. Trenching was carried out by machine, and halted once in situ archaeological deposits were encountered. However, as experienced before, only subsoil-cut features survived-years of ploughing the fairly shallow ploughsoil had completely removed any potential archaeological stratigraphy.

Seven trenches were opened. Of these, only three, all located in Grange Field 3, to the east of Grange Castle, produced any significant archaeology. Two linear features 0.5–0.8m wide, of unknown date and function, ran in a north-south direction. However, their proximity both to the 15th-century castle and to one another could suggest substantial archaeological potential. Some spreads of brown soil had 20th-century pottery inclusions in their upper surface, while other areas, a mix of brown soil and broken slate subsoil, were probably the result of the dragging action of the plough.

This licence was taken over by Richard O'Brien to carry out monitoring and excavation along the line of the road (No. 87, Excavations 1997).

Windsor House, 11 Fairview Strand, Fairview, Dublin 3