2006:963 - KILLASHEE DEMESNE, Kildare

An additional programme of testing was undertaken at Killashee Demesne, Co. Kildare, in February 2006. The earlier work was carried out in 2004 (Excavations 2004, No. 839). A geophysical survey of selected areas of the overall landholding undertaken by Margaret Gowen & Co. detected a number of anomalies of archaeological potential. Testing determined that almost all such anomalies were produced by drains, recent agricultural activity or by natural features such as iron-panning.
However, the geophysical survey detected a number of subcircular features in one specific area located to the west of an existing church and graveyard site which is believed to be constructed on an ecclesiastical site of 5th-century origin (KD024–003). Testing in this area revealed a number of ditches, the locations of which broadly coincided with the geophysical anomalies. In general, the fills of the ditches did not reveal anything that might be of use in dating the features. However, part of a flint scraper and a twin-pronged bone object, of possible early historic date, were recovered from the basal fill of one of the ditches. In addition, a number of small areas of burning and possible post-holes were also uncovered. Furthermore, a number of sherds of medieval pottery were recovered from the topsoil.
Given the results of the testing and geophysical survey, it is speculated that the archaeological remains form part of a multi-period complex, probably associated with the 5th-century monastic site founded by St Auxilius.
A new planning application has been submitted for the development of the subject lands and a buffer area has been established to ensure that the subsurface archaeological remains are preserved in situ and are not disturbed by any secondary development works.