2001:638 - DRINNANSTOWN SOUTH, Kildare

Monitoring was a condition of planning permission on the site of a proposed quarry extension at Drinnanstown South. The site, approximately 0.5km2, lies on the southern slope of Boston Hill, 3.5km east of Rathangan village. At 150m above sea-level, it commands a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape. Dominating this landscape are the Hill of Allen to the east, Grange Hill to the south-east and Dunmurry Hill to the south. Archaeological material is recorded on each of these hills, the earliest activity appearing to be Bronze Age. The Hill of Allen is the legendary seat of Fionn mac Cumhaill, and a mound on the summit may be a barrow (SMR 18:21(01)). Grange Hill is the location of the ‘Chair of Kildare’, a low artificial mound (SMR 17:28(01)) on the summit of a natural rock outcrop. Dunmurry Hill is the location of a hillfort (SMR 22:1(01)), a hilltop cairn (SMR 22:1(02)) and a barrow site (SMR 22:2). Although the Record of Monuments and Places lists five archaeological sites in the immediate vicinity of the site, there was no previously recorded archaeology on Boston Hill.

The first phase of monitoring was conducted between 24 September and 26 October 2001. Topsoil-stripping was carried out on the southern and eastern parts of the site, where berms were being constructed along the borders to mitigate the visual impact of the development upon the surrounding landscape. Seven areas of archaeology were uncovered, with features listed alphabetically within each area. It appears that a broad date range may be represented on the site, from prehistoric to post-medieval. It may become apparent that some of this material parallels and relates to the archaeology of the three visible hills. Further work will be necessary to reach a conclusive interpretation.

Area 1
Area 1 was in the north-eastern part of the site. It contained ten features which were very widely dispersed within an area of 3,600m2. To the extreme south-east, a patch of in situ burnt soil was surrounded by a number of possible pits and post-holes (Features A to C). Feature E, c. 32m to the north, was a possible pit. It appeared to be relatively isolated but contained one piece of iron slag, suggesting that it may be associated with metalworking activity. Features F–H, c. 50m north-north-west of Feature A, may represent in situ burnt stake- or post-holes.

Area 2
Area 2 was in the south-eastern part of the site and encompassed an area of 1,500m2, within which sixteen features were identified. Two possible ditches to the east may form an enclosure in which most of the features are located. The focus of activity appeared to be represented by Features A–E, where in situ burning and a number of possible pits containing charcoal-rich soil were surrounded and overlain by stake- and post-holes. Other features in the area consisted of further pits and post-holes.

Area 3
In Area 3, to the south-west of Area 2, the archaeology was contained within an area of 3,750m2. There were at least 28 features, many of which appeared to be related to metalworking activities. There were a number of large pits with in situ burning around the edges and fills of charcoal-rich soil. Some of these contained large pieces of both iron and copper slag. It is probable that a full range of metalworking features, including pit furnaces, smelting furnaces and charcoal-burning pits, are represented in the area. The features appear to be sited along the same contour, their distribution curving in an arc around the south-eastern slope of he hill. This suggests that they were deliberately placed to avoid the prevailing south-west wind and to exploit maximum direct sunlight. No datable ceramics were uncovered and the slag revealed provides only a terminus post quem. With iron slag present the metalworking features could date from the Iron Age, although similar techniques remained in use until medieval times; therefore a broad date of between 500 BC and AD 1500 could apply.

Features A and B were located to the extreme south-east of the area and suggest a diversity of activity. Both appear to be small, charcoal-filled pits and one contained burnt or cremated bone. At this stage it has not been ascertained whether this bone is human or animal but, either way, there is a possibility that the pits may have had a ritual function.

Area 4
Area 4 was approximately 20m north-west of Area 3 in the southern part of the site. There were sixteen features within an area of 750m2. The archaeology was comprised of possible pits and stake-holes. An integrated structural feature may become apparent when the area is fully cleaned back and excavated. Iron slag and burnt stone contained within two of the features (Features O and P) suggest that this area is directly related to the metalworking activities of Area 3.

Area 5
Area 5 was approximately 40m south of Area 4. Here only five features were identified, contained within 500m2. They consisted of possible pits containing charcoal, burning and burnt stone. No finds were revealed to suggest either the date or the function of these features.

Area 6
Approximately 50m west of Area 4, Area 6 was located in the southern part of the site. It contained four features within an area of 200m2. These consisted of an area of in situ burnt soil (Feature D) and a number of possible pits containing inclusions of charcoal. No finds were revealed to suggest the date or function of these features.

Area 7
Area 7 was in the south-western part of the site. Twelve features were revealed and these were widely dispersed within an area of 2,500m2. There appeared to be a focus of activity represented by Features A–F. These consisted of anomalous subsoil-cut features containing charcoal inclusions. Areas of in situ burnt soil and possible pits were located in the surrounding area. There was burnt stone within Feature I, and Feature J contained one piece of possible prehistoric pottery.

Upstanding features
Two upstanding features were identified on the site. The first is a probable kiln located on a post-medieval field boundary that lies between Areas 4 and 6. The remains are composed of medium to large subangular stones (0.08–0.3m in size). The larger stones define the edge of the feature and appear to be structural. In plan they describe a circular shape (c. 4m in diameter) which may be the bowl of the kiln, and extending from this to the south is a segmented arc shape, approximately 2.5m wide and 5m in total length. The interior of the feature is filled by the smaller stones. A rectangular linear feature (0.77m by 2m), also filled by smaller stones, extends from the western side of the bowl and may represent a former flue. The surrounding area is quite overgrown but scatterings of similar stones can be seen which may indicate subsurface features, collapsed elements of the upstanding feature or related waste material.

The field boundaries on the site have remained relatively unaltered since the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1837, and monitoring revealed no evidence that they were earlier than post-medieval in date. It is probable, therefore, that the kiln is post-medieval and its location on a field boundary is suggestive of the long-standing tradition of shared limekilns amongst farmers and their deliberate placement on liminal territory.

The second upstanding feature is approximately 30m north-west of this. It may also be a limekiln but of very different structure and a relatively modern date. It is circular in plan (c. 20m in diameter), situated on a naturally steep slope of the hill, and faces south-west. A platform area at the top of the slope extends into a small ridge that surrounds the perimeter of the feature. The platform has a sharp break of slope at the top which descends sharply to meet the south-western edge of the feature, approximately 5m lower in height. The feature is completely overgrown with gorse, and modern landfill material has been deposited within the north-eastern cavity. It was therefore impossible to identify any diagnostic features that would confirm its function. Although its shape suggests that of a modern limekiln, it is possible that it may simply be an area in which outcroppings of rock or a very sharp natural slope have prevented ploughing and given the appearance of a deliberately constructed feature.

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