2007:868 - Woodlands West, Kildare

This site was excavated in 2007 as part of the N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford scheme, Phase 3: Kilcullen to Carlow. A ringfort, KD040–001, was depicted on the first-edition OS map of 1837 but not on the second edition of 1907. There were no visible traces of the enclosure aboveground. Approximately 40% of the enclosure lay within the road corridor. Pre-development test-trenching undertaken by CRDS Ltd identified a significant curvilinear ditch and a number of external features interpreted as being associated with this ditch.
Excavation revealed the line of the original ditch, as well as a smaller outer ditch. The second ditch, although it broadly respected the line of the larger, was not concentric but has been interpreted as being contemporary. The main ditch defined a circular area with an internal diameter of c. 51m. The inner ditch was an average of 4.5m wide, with a maximum width of 6m, and an average of 1.2m deep, with a maximum depth of 1.55m. The smaller outer ditch was 0.8m wide and 0.4m deep.
No internal structures were identified and evidence for an internal bank was inconclusive; this is likely to be a consequence of the intensive modern cultivation of the area. Also revealed were two isolated inhumations, one of an adolescent and one of an adult. The adolescent was within an irregular cut. The cut was in the smaller outer ditch indicating that the deposition belonged to a period after the use of the monument and was not associated with it. Most probably the adolescent was interred here during the post-medieval period. The adult was also within an irregular cut. The cut was outside the smaller outer ditch.
Associated features were a possible kiln, pits, a series of post-holes and ditches, particularly south of the enclosure. All except one of the ditches were interpreted as being post-medieval, and some of them were aligned with existing field boundaries in neighbouring fields. The other ditch was possibly contemporary with the enclosure, although radiocarbon dating will be necessary to determine this. The pits were probably contemporary with the enclosure occupation, although no finds were recovered from them.
Finds recovered from the site include medieval pottery and an iron knife blade from the main ditch, medieval pottery from a possible furnace and a pit, and a long cross penny found during initial site cleaning. These initial dates indicate that the site could be medieval, not early medieval. This later date could suggest that the enclosure ditch does not represent the remains of a ringfort, but possibly an Anglo-Norman ringwork. However, post-excavation analysis is at an early stage, and this interpretation may be refined.