County: Kildare Site name: OLDTOWN/AGHARDS
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 98E0104
Author: Rónán Swan, Arch-Tech Ltd
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 696546m, N 733729m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.344972, -6.550073
A testing programme was undertaken to address the impact that the proposed development would have on three distinct areas:
The area closest to St Mochua's church
Three trenches were positioned to determine whether there was any evidence of an outer enclosure. These trenches were opened by machine to an average depth of 0.85m. The stratigraphy revealed a heavily disturbed ploughsoil overlying natural deposits and bedrock. There was no indication of any archaeological features or deposits in this area.
The area of the townland boundary between Oldtown and Aghards
The purpose of these trenches, the average depth of which was 0.9m, was to determine the nature of this townland boundary. A disturbed ploughsoil overlying a woody deposit and natural deposits was revealed. This woody deposit appears to be the only surviving evidence of the townland boundary, which would probably have been a hedge. There was no indication of an associated ditch or bank. Likewise with the curving boundary, this does not seem to have had any particular archaeological significance.
The roadway
The proposed final trench was not cut, as it was apparent that this was a continuation of the right of way, which is identified on maps of the area. This roadway extends from the present end of the right of way (as identified by a wire fence) 275m to the north-west. The ditch on the southern side is still evident, while the northern ditch has been eroded by agricultural activity. This roadway is depicted on both Noble and Keenan's map of 1753 and Taylor's map of 1783, leading to Oldtown.
Before any development work takes place the shrubbery and undergrowth should be cut back and removed to enable a detailed topographical/contour survey of the roadway to be completed. It will then be possible to determine whether further testing is required.
32 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2
