County: Kildare Site name: VARIOUS, Counties Kildare and Meath
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 02E0102
Author: Donald Murphy, ACS Ltd.
Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 677913m, N 740047m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.404808, -6.828273
Testing was carried out along the entire extent of Contract 2 of the proposed M4 Kinnegad–Enfield– Kilcock Motorway Scheme from 12 February to 15 March 2002. Sixteen potential sites were identified during the initial environmental impact statement phase of this contract. Seven of these (Sites 30, 31, 32, 59, A, AE8 and AE10) were assessed by trial-trenching under separate licences by Linda Clarke before the testing of the proposed route. A topographical survey was carried out on three sites (102, AE13 and AE15), and a geophysical survey was carried out on two sites (A and AE14). A large circular enclosure was identified through the geophysical survey at Site A, which was subsequently tested. The survey at Site AE14, combined with an examination of early OS maps, confirmed that the linear features identified through aerial photography represented removed field boundaries. As a result the site was tested as part of the general centre-line trenching. In addition, the topographical survey of the three sites failed to reveal further evidence of archaeology apart from modern cultivation ridges, and these sites were then tested as part of the general centre-line trenching.
The site inspections carried out at Sites 37 and AE12 revealed no potential features within the road-take, and therefore testing as part of the general centre-line trenching was recommended as being sufficient. A photographic survey of the railway embankment (Site 106) was carried out, and the potential of the rivers Boyne (Site 87) and Blackwater (Site 90) was assessed by means of the general centre-line trenching on the land-take on either side of each. No archaeological features were exposed in proximity to either. Sites 87, 88, 89 and AE11 and did not form part of the present contract.
A total of 78 fields were tested in Contract 2. A single test-trench was excavated along the centre-line of the road-take. Additional trenches were then excavated at right angles to the centre-line trench, on alternate sides of the centre-line trench, every 20–25m. The position of additional trenches was often determined by the presence of archaeological features/potential archaeological features in the main centre-line trench.
Twelve sites were identified as a result of centre-line trenching and testing of previously identified sites.
Kilrathmurray 1 (Site 32): rubble remains of an 18th-/19th-century house (No. 944, Excavations 2002, 02E1085);
Kilrathmurray 2 (Sites 30 and 31): burnt spread and charcoal spread (No. 945, Excavations 2002, 02E1086);
Ballyonan 1: trough, pit, stake-hole (No. 868, Excavations 2002, 02E1087);
Moyvally 1: hearths, ditches, pits (No. 961, Excavations 2002, 02E1088);
Moyvally 2: pits (No. 962, Excavations 2002, 02E1089);
Kilmore 1: pit (see No. 937, Excavations 2002, 02E1090);
Kilmorebrannagh 1: fulacht spread (No. 938, Excavations 2002, 02E1075);
Martinstown 1: pits, ditch (No. 952, Excavations 2002, 02E1091);
Newcastle 1: post-holes (No. 1498, Excavations 2002, 02E1092), Co. Meath;
Newcastle 2: pits, ditches, spreads (No. 1499, Excavations 2002, 02E1093), Co. Meath;
Johnstown 1 and 2 and Posseckstown 1: burial site, enclosure, pits, hearths, ditches (major settlement site) (No. 1471, Excavations 2002, 02E0462), Co. Meath;
Johnstown 3: two pits (No. 1472, Excavations 2002, 02E1094), Co. Meath.
Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth
