County: Kildare Site name: CLONCURRY
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 4:21 Licence number: 01E0264
Author: Hilary Opie
Site type: Pit, Burnt spread, Structure and Field boundary
Period/Dating: Medieval (AD 400-AD 1600)
ITM: E 680310m, N 741259m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.415345, -6.791917
Pre-development test-trenching was undertaken at Cloncurry, Co. Kildare. This is the site of a proposed road-widening and junction improvement scheme at the N4–Cloncurry crossroads. Archaeological investigations were recommended as the proposed scheme lies within the medieval borough of Cloncurry and within the area of archaeological interest as defined by the Urban Archaeological Survey. Test-trenching took place between 13 June and 3 July 2001.
Nine trenches were excavated. Sod and topsoil were removed by machine and subsequent excavation was by hand. Most of the trenches were located on the modern road verges and therefore contained nothing of an archaeological nature. However, three of the trenches (2, 8 and 9) produced evidence of activity.
Trench 2 occupied a small triangle of land on the western side of the crossroads. It measured 10m north-east/south-west by 1.7m. It contained the foundations of a stone building running east–west and then turning at right angles to run north–south. A parallel outer ditch or foundation trench was also noted. Ten sherds of medieval pottery were recovered from this trench.
Trenches 8 and 9 were located on the eastern side of the crossroads in a small portion of a field which was relatively undisturbed compared to the rest of the site. Trench 8 measured 10m north-west/south-east by 1.6m. Trench 9 was north of Trench 8 and measured 10m north–south by 1.6m. Trench 8 produced evidence of a substantial pit, or possible structure, containing twenty sherds of medieval pottery. A medieval hearth and possible medieval boundary were also identified. Trench 9 also produced significant evidence for medieval activity in the form of ditches or boundary features, large burnt spreads — or burnt structures — and layered deposits. The stratigraphy was very deep in this trench and it was not fully bottomed. However, it was clear that the field containing Trenches 8 and 9 would require further archaeological investigation ahead of any proposed development.
103 Cherrywood Drive, Clondalkin, Dublin 22
