1997:267 - CLANE: Main Street, Kildare

Test-trenching was carried out at a site at Main Street, Clane, Co. Kildare, on 16 September 1997 in compliance with a condition of planning. The site is situated within the area of archaeological potential for Clane as defined by the Urban Archaeological Survey, and is adjacent to St Michael's Church and cemetery, the first historical reference to which dates to 1212. Four test-trenches were inserted to investigate the stratigraphy in the area of the proposed house and driveway.

A considerable amount of disturbance and recent soil deposition was found to exist in the vicinity of the proposed house and along the house end of the proposed driveway. A mortared stone wall was found in one of the test-trenches which was inserted along the route of the proposed driveway, and its location and direction coincided with a wall which is depicted on the 1st and 2nd edition OS maps. No foundation trench was visible for this wall and the fill of the trench suggested that it had been buried by soil deposition in recent times. Two sherds of medieval pottery were found in the disturbed fill surrounding this wall. While the wall was considered to be of possible but doubtful archaeological significance, the client indicated an intention to reroute the line of the proposed driveway to avoid any interference with this feature. A trench inserted immediately south-east of the cemetery enclosure did not reveal evidence of recent soil deposition and the natural was encountered at a depth of 0.5m.

39 Kerdiff Park, Monread, Naas, Co. Kildare