2003:881 - BLACKCHURCH (Site 14), Kildare

Testing was undertaken at Site 14 prior to the N7 Naas Road Widening and Interchanges Scheme, on behalf of Kildare County Council.

Specific trenches (over areas of geophysical anomaly) and non-specific trenches were excavated over the entire area. Testing was carried out to clarify the nature and extent of existing disturbance and intrusions and to assess the degree of archaeological survival, in order to formulate further mitigation strategies designed to reduce or offset the impact of the proposed development scheme.

A charcoal-rich feature recorded at the west end of Trench 12 was located in an area of high potential, according to the geophysical results. However, the excavation of trenches to the south and west of the trench failed to produce any evidence for further archaeological features.
Trench 48W produced evidence for a number of potential archaeological anomalies. These appear to be a possible ditch and pits. The western feature may represent the remnant of a road (a regular gravel band) or perhaps an original lane into the farmstead. The ditch and pit may represent activity along an earlier property boundary or boundary associated with the earlier (pre-Naas Road) junction.

Much of the potential suggested by the results of the geophysical survey carried out to the east of the area seems to have been caused by natural geology, the area being run through with linear geological deposits of gravel, some of which are iron-rich.

One area of definite archaeological potential was uncovered to the east of Site 14, near the field boundary. It is suggested that this may form a curvilinear ditch, possibly medieval in date, with ancillary archaeological features.

8 Dungar Terrace, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin