2004:0835 - KILDARE: St Brigid's Cathedral Carpark, Kildare

An excavation was carried out at a proposed carpark development on a site adjacent to Market Square and St Brigid's Cathedral in Kildare town. This site was previously assessed by Paul Stevens (No. 833, Excavations 2004, 04E0506). Further testing was requested by the DoEHLG in October 2004. This was carried out from 6–8 September 2004 (No. 834, Excavations 2004). It was requested that all features impacted upon by the development be archaeologically resolved. This involved the excavation of features identified in the trenches excavated at the proposed location of the drains (Trenches 2, 5 and 9).

Eight pits (F3, F14–16, F21, F22, F26, F27), a rough stone surface that extended from Trench 2 to Trench 9 (F24/F9), the possible remains of two linear features (F11 and F25) and built-up/redeposited material (F8, F10/F13 and F20) were exposed. It is likely that six of the pits (F3, F14–16, F22, F26) functioned as refuse pits. The remaining two may represent tree-root boles. Animal bone was recovered from seven of these features (F3, F14–16, F21, F22, F26) and a very small quantity of cremated bone was recovered from two pits (F21, F26). F3 was post-medieval to early modern in date, as the remains of a glass bottle were recovered from the base. The date of the other pits is not known.

The rough stone surface in Trench 2 (F24) appeared to represent an old ground surface and extended across the site as far as Trench 9 (F9). This feature may represent an old laneway. It was quite compact but roughly built and not like a cobbled surface. This stone surface sealed and therefore postdated three of the pits (F14, F15, F26) and the possible pit (F27) within the site. No finds were recovered from the rough stone surface.

The possible remains of a linear feature (F25) were identified in the northern extent of Trench 2 and in the northern extent of Trench 9 (F11). It was difficult to identify, as it was similar in consistency and colour to the overlying topsoil. The full extent of this feature was not identified, as the northern extent of the site appeared to be disturbed (full of large stones/rubble, particularly in Trench 9) and as a result any trace of the linear feature was removed. It could be that the remains of this feature exist beyond the depth of excavation. Three sherds of medieval pottery were recovered from F25 and three from F11.

The clay layers (F8, F10/F13 and F20) appear to represent material that was redeposited within this site or built-up layers. All of these layers were quite similar to natural subsoil but were quite loose in composition. A significant amount of animal bone was recovered from them. Two sherds of medieval pottery, a stone wheel-shaped object and a small copper-alloy fragment were recovered from the layers in Trench 9. A single clay-pipe stem was recovered from Trench 2. It is likely that these layers are medieval in date, as they represent the earliest phase of activity of the site and all other features are cut into them. This is reinforced by the fact that medieval pottery was recovered from the remains of the linear features (F11 and F25), which were cut into the clay layer F20 and F10/F13 respectively, the upper fill of the pit F16 (F6), which was cut into the clay layer (F8) and the stones (F23), which was cut into the clay layer (F20).

Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth