County: Kildare Site name: ATHY: Kildare Road
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 97E0307
Author: Clare Mullins
Site type: Ecclesiastical enclosure
Period/Dating: Medieval (AD 400-AD 1600)
ITM: E 668714m, N 694242m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.994495, -6.976432
Test-trenching was carried out at the site of a proposed housing development on 12 and 13 August 1997. Testing was in compliance with a condition of planning as the site lay partly within the zone of archaeological potential for Athy, as defined by the Urban Archaeological Survey, and bordered the perimeter wall of St Michael's Church. Eleven test-trenches were opened, each positioned at a right angle to the wall which surrounded St Michael's cemetery.
A considerable degree of disturbance was noted along the Kildare Road part of the development site. It consisted of mortar and red brick occurring as a deep horizon between the topsoil and natural. It is probable that this disturbance is associated with the construction and/or demolition of a building which appears on the 1st edition OS map. A mortared stone wall was encountered in one of the trenches. This corresponded in location and alignment with a boundary which appears on the 1st edition map and was considered to be of possible archaeological significance but was not threatened by the proposed development. A fragment of medieval pottery and a human toe bone were found close to the enclosing wall of St Michael's cemetery.
Given the proximity of the development to the medieval church site, monitoring was recommended in a limited area closest to the older part of the church site. This was carried out in August and no archaeological finds or features were identified.
39 Kerdiff Park, Monread, Naas, Co. Kildare
