1998:300 - CASTLEFARM, Kildare

Test-trenching was carried out on the site of a proposed development at Castlefarm, Narraghmore, Athy, in August 1995. This revealed the existence of a large ditch running north-south along the western side of the development site. A bowl-shaped feature filled with ash and charcoal was also identified within the site (Excavations 1995, 44–5).

Monitoring of groundworks associated with the development was carried out during February 1998. This revealed the curving line of the ditch that had previously been identified during testing over a distance of c. 30m at the northern end of the site, as well as the existence of two further ditches that were external to the first. In addition to this triple-ditched structure fifteen discrete charcoal-rich deposits were identified within the development site.

The inner ditch, identified during testing, was the largest of the three, measuring up to 3.2m across and up to 1.5m deep. The ditches appeared to become progressively less substantial towards the periphery, for while the central ditch measured 1.5m across, the outer ditch measured only 1.2m across. The outer ditch was only 0.35m deep (a section through this was excavated where it lay in the path of a proposed wall), but there was no indication of the depth of the central ditch. A distance of 4–5m separated the inner and central ditches, but the distance between the central and outer ditch was approximately four times this figure. These ditches appeared to curve concentrically, from north-west to south-west, down the western side of the development site, and the estimated diameter of a circular enclosure, based upon a projection of the observed curves, suggests a diameter of more than 100m for the external ditch. However, there is no direct evidence that the ditches do continue to form an enclosure of any shape.

Fifteen discrete features, formed by deposits of charcoal-rich material that occupied cuts within the natural, were also identified. Some of these were positioned inbetween or over the ditch features, but others appear to be positioned external to the ditch complex, on the basis of the projected curve. One of these features (F2) was damaged during the course of the development and was therefore excavated. It represented a pit that was broadly bowl-shaped in profile, with a depth of 0.2m, and subcircular in plan, measuring 0.6m x 0.4m. The fill consisted mainly of charcoal mixed with silty clay, and there was slight oxidisation of the soil at the edge of the feature.

If these curving ditches represent some kind of enclosure it is clear that the centre of such an enclosure would lie outside and to the west of the development site, in the adjacent field. If an actual enclosure is not represented it would also seem likely that the focus of activities on the site should lie on the western side of the curving line delineated by the ditches. It is clear that the features uncovered during testing and monitoring represent a large complex, and the apparent location of many of the discrete features outside of the ditch complex indicates that its extent is by no means well defined. It is also possible that a fourth ditch lies beyond that which is currently being identified as the external ditch.

The size of the ditch features and the considerable distance between them suggests that they were not defensive in concept. The location of some of the charcoal-rich deposits over the backfill of these ditches indicates that the enclosing element was backfilled in antiquity, and this again suggests a ritual function for the site. Tiny fragments of burnt bone were noticed within the fill of some of the discrete features, and this may indicate that they functioned as cremation pits.

A sample of charcoal from F2 returned a radiocarbon determination of 3970–3710 BC (95% confidence level).

The original reason for archaeological involvement in this development was the depiction of a castle on the site in Taylor's map of 1783. No trace of this castle was found during testing or monitoring, and local tradition places this castle on the opposite side of the road in the 'castle field'. The discovery of this complex therefore appears to have been entirely coincidental.

39 Kerdiff Park, Monread, Naas, Co. Kildare