County: Kildare Site name: BLACKCHURCH (Site 48)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: KD020-027---- Licence number: 03E1607
Author: Shane Delaney, Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd.
Site type: Habitation site
Period/Dating: Medieval (AD 400-AD 1600)
ITM: E 696637m, N 723917m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.256799, -6.551694
Testing was undertaken at Site 48 prior to the N7 Naas Road Widening and Interchanges Scheme. Fifty-three trenches totalling a length of 1338m were excavated. Testing revealed a number of relict field drains, possible boundaries and cultivation furrows. To the east of the tested area there appears to be a concentration of potential archaeological features, including possible floor surfaces, ditches/gullies and pits. Burnt and unburnt bone, slag and evidence for metalworking and concentrations of charcoal have been recorded from the area and a fragment of lignite bracelet was also retrieved from a pit here. It is suggested that the site may be of early medieval date and may represent the remnant of a ringfort-type habitation.
A number of probable drains and possibly removed field boundaries were recorded across the area tested. Trench 19 produced evidence for such a drain/ditch, the fill of which contained bone. Approximately 15m to the south of this ditch a narrow charcoal-rich gully was identified, with charcoal and burnt clay evident. It is suggested that this may be archaeological in character.
Trench 18 (to the east of Trench 19) also produced evidence for a drain/ditch-like feature with bone and charcoal. This may be a continuation of the ditch identified in Trench 19. As there was a high charcoal content in the fill from this ditch, it is suggested that this may be archaeological in character.
8 Dungar Terrace, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin
