County: Kildare Site name: DOWDENSTOWN GREAT
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 24:25 Licence number: 98E0368
Author: Martin E. Byrne
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 692038m, N 713683m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.165676, -6.623533
An archaeological evaluation was undertaken at a proposed development site at Dowdenstown Great, Co. Kildare, on 15 August 1998. The work was carried out in compliance with a condition included in the grant of planning in relation to the construction of a private house. The general landscape in the immediate vicinity of the site is hilly pastureland, some of which has been subjected to quarrying activities.
The site is adjacent to an enclosure site known as 'The Ring.' This was partially destroyed before 1837 and is marked on the OS 6-inch maps as C-shaped. It appears from cartographic sources that the site was subcircular, with a minimum diameter of c. 200m. This indicates that it may have been a hillfort, although it is impossible to determine its exact function without archaeological investigations. Much more of the site has been destroyed by quarrying in recent years, an activity that has now ceased, although it is still possible to identify the remains of the external bank feature. There are no definite indications of an external fosse.
Six trial-trenches were excavated by means of a mechanical excavator fitted with a ditching bucket. No features, structures or finds of archaeological interest were uncovered. It was therefore recommended that no further archaeological involvement was required at the site.
39 Kerdiff Park, Monread, Naas, Co. Kildare
