2001:671 - NAAS: Naas Swimming-Pool, Fair Green, Kildare

Testing was undertaken at the proposed site of a swimming-pool development between 11 and 13 December 2001. The site is in the south of the archaeological constraint area for the town of Naas, immediately east of the monument known as the South Moate. This monument was recorded as an ‘Old Rath’ by Thomas de Burgh (1895, 323). No part of this monument is now visible.

Six trenches were excavated, two of which revealed material of archaeological potential (Trenches 1 and 3). No material of archaeological significance was found in the other four trenches. All trenches revealed evidence of extensive landscaping and recent ground disturbance. No artefactual material of significance was found in any of the trenches excavated.

Trench 1 (15m north–south by c. 1.3m) was in the south of the site adjacent to Craddockstown Road. It was excavated to a maximum depth of 2.7m. The largest feature in this trench (Feature B) was a wide (c. 7m) linear feature with a compact grey silt fill. To the north and south of this were two other linear features of similar orientation (east–west). To the north was a shallow (0.37m in depth) linear feature (Feature A), 1.1m wide. To the south was a similar feature (Feature C). Between Feature B and Feature C was a single subrectangular post-hole.

Trench 3 (23m north–south by 1.3m) was immediately west of the existing swimming-pool building and was excavated to an average depth of 0.55m. Eight features of archaeological potential have been identified in this trench, including three linear features (principally aligned east–west), three pit features and a single spread. These features are located on the most elevated portion of the site and may be related to activity associated with the South Moate.

Reference
de Burgh, T.J. 1894 Ancient Naas. Part V. Journal of the Kildare Archaeological Society 1 (5), 318–36.

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