2003:884 - BLACKCHURCH (Site 14C), Kildare

The site was identified during pre-development N7 road widening centre-line testing by Shane Delaney (No. 881, Excavations 2004, 03E1606) carried out between 13 and 17 October 2003. The Naas Road Widening and Interchanges Scheme is essentially an improvement of the existing N7 between Maudlins Interchange and the Dublin/Kildare county boundary.

Site 14C was located immediately north of the existing N7 and immediately east of the Castlewarden Road in a large open field. A 50m by 50m site was opened around the area of known archaeological importance in December 2003, although the main focus was within an area measuring approximately 35m by 40m. The results of the test-trenching indicated linear features (ditches) and possible pits and burnt spreads. It was originally thought that the ditches might form part of an enclosure, with the other features representing internal activity within this. Excavations continued until mid-February 2004.

The two main ditches identified were in the south-west corner and extended at right angles to one another. They did not, however, form part of an enclosure but appear to have an agricultural function—possibly drainage or land/property boundaries. Two other features initially identified as ditches appear to be natural geological anomalies—natural hollows between gravel ridges that filled with grey silty clay. Some of these linear features were evident on a geophysical survey carried out in conjunction with the testing phase.

The remainder of the features identified consisted of shallow, irregular-shaped pits and shallow gullies. It is thought that this activity may be associated with possible land clearance and subsequent agricultural activities, including drainage, ploughing and small field divisions/plots. All of the features produced medieval pottery, which will give an accurate date for the activity, but the indications are that it is possibly dated to the 13th–14th centuries. The amount of pottery identified across the site suggests that there may be a settlement in the immediate vicinity, probably outside the road-take, as no evidence of this was identified in testing.

The site, in conjunction with Site 14B to the south-west (No. 883, Excavations 2003) and Site 48 (No. 885, Excavations 2003) on the southern side of the N7, has the potential of expanding our understanding of agricultural practices in the area, and also the changes in land ownership/property divisions throughout the ages up to the modern day, when large open area fields are the norm. Later post-medieval plough furrows show that the field has been cross-ploughed, but some stratigraphically earlier furrows running in different orientations may further indicate changes in boundaries.

8 Dungar Terrace, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin