County: Kildare Site name: KILLHILL
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 19:8 Licence number: 97E0152
Author: Rónán Swan
Site type: Castle - motte and bailey
Period/Dating: Late Medieval (AD 1100-AD 1599)
ITM: E 694753m, N 722889m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.247910, -6.580220
In compliance with the recommendations of the National Monuments Service, a programme of archaeological testing was carried out at Killhill in May 1997.
A series of five trenches were mechanically opened, in all cases dug to reveal the underlying natural deposits. Two trenches were cut at the southern boundary of the site between the proposed development and the motte. Another trench was cut on the western boundary of the site, which is closest to the probable line of the ecclesiastical enclosure. A subsequent trench was cut in the northern part of the site, parallel to the main road, to investigate the possibility of traces of manorial settlement, while the final trench was cut in the central area of the site.
No archaeological features or artefacts were identified in the southern trenches closest to the motte, although there was some evidence for field drains. In the eastern trench, two sherds of medieval pottery were recovered, while the northern trench also yielded sherds of medieval pottery.
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