County: Kildare Site name: NAAS
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 97E0151
Author: Breandán Ó Ríordáin, for Valerie J. Keeley Ltd.
Site type: Exacavation - miscellaneous
Period/Dating: Late Medieval (AD 1100-AD 1599)
ITM: E 689532m, N 719745m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.220565, -6.659308
Additional monitoring of mechanical cutting of trenches to accommodate Bord Gáis Éireann pipe-laying in certain areas in Naas was carried out in the period between 9 and 14 June 1998 (see Excavations 1997, 96–8, for 1997 season of work).
A trench in Dara Court ran along the course of a now obsolete watermain in disturbed material, including rubble and bricks, and underlying boulder clay excavated to a depth of 0.8m and a width of 0.4m. A short length of trench was also cut in the southern part of Corban's Lane. A main sewer runs north-south through Corban's Lane to South Main Street. This, together with electricity service cables, had given rise to totally disturbed strata.
Although a ditch and 12th–14th-century pottery sherds had been uncovered at a development site running parallel to Corban's Lane, no material of archaeological interest came to light here in the course of this project.
A stretch of the southern end of New Row close to the west side was mechanically excavated. The soil consisted of boulder clay and many large and small water-rolled stones under tarmacadam dressing. No archaeological material was present.
Subsidiary gas pipe connections were laid in John's Lane and Poplar Square adjoining Lawlors Hotel and Butt Mullins Restaurant and at the southern side of the junction between North Main Street and Sallins Road, and in South Main Street. The strata in all cases had been disturbed in earlier years through the laying of other services and development works. No material of archaeological significance came to light.
The laying of a gas pipeline along the southern side of part of Friary Street had been proposed. However, owing to traffic hazards and other considerations this was not proceeded with.
Burgage More, Blessington, Co. Wicklow and Duke Street, Athy, Co. Kildare
