2002:0893 - CLONCURRY(Site 4), Kildare

An excavation was carried out before the proposed M4 Kinnegad–Enfield–Kilcock road development at Site 4, Cloncurry, Co. Kildare. Site 4 was initially uncovered during centre-line testing by Dermot Nelis on 18 February 2002 (No. 908, Excavations 2002, 02E0141). A circular enclosure, 5m in diameter, and five pits to the north of it were recorded. It was recommended that the area of archaeological potential be fully excavated before construction works.

The excavation took place from 20 to 27 September. An area of 20m by 20m was opened. The topsoil was removed by flat-bucketed machine, and the area was then excavated by hand until archaeological deposits were reached. The dominant feature on the site was a ring-ditch possibly associated with a barrow. Most of the remains of the feature had been ploughed out, with the plough furrows clearly in evidence across the site. No evidence of a mound or bank was identified. The ditch was 6.4–7m in diameter and 0.3–0.7m wide, being widest in the south-west corner and narrowest in the north-east. There was a sharp break at the top of the cut, with an imperceptible break at the base, giving a U-shaped profile. The ring-ditch was 0.1–0.2m deep and filled with a deposit of mid-orange/brown, loamy clay that had inclusions of small pebbles and occasional charcoal flecks.

Most of the archaeological remains on the site had been ploughed out, with the plough furrows clearly in evidence across the site. A number of small pits/post-holes to the north of this feature may be related, and one in particular showed evidence of burnt bone and charcoal. There was no evidence anywhere on the site of in situ burning. All other features represented agricultural plough furrows or non-archaeological material.

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