County: Kildare Site name: MOYVALLEY (2)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 02E1089
Author: Robert O’Hara, ACS Ltd.
Site type: Pit
Period/Dating: Early Medieval (AD 400-AD 1099)
ITM: E 672141m, N 741966m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.422876, -6.914617
Excavation was carried out on behalf of Westmeath County Council at Moyvalley 2, Co. Kildare, before the construction of the M4 Kinnegad–Enfield–Kilcock Motorway Scheme, Contract 2, from 16 to 20 September 2002. The site had been described during route testing as three possible pits. Two of the features were natural; the third was a small charcoal-rich pit, roughly circular, c. 1.05m in diameter and 0.07m deep. It provided a radiocarbon date of cal. AD 670–970 (with the possibility of old wood effect).
There was no direct evidence of burning in situ and no associated features. The pit was within the grounds of Ballyna estate, formerly the More O’Farrell estate. The land was originally extensive marsh but had been well drained by a number of post-medieval ditches and drains. No cultural material was associated with the pit.
Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth
