2008:665 - Lourdsville, Kildare, Kildare

Monitoring was carried out in relation to landscaping at Lourdsville, Kildare town. The project involved new pedestrian walkways, a service entrance and garden features. Little excavation work was involved. The proposed development site is located north of Kildare Cathedral and comprises a greenfield area between the cathedral and the Lourdsville housing estate. There are a number of archaeological sites in the vicinity.
Prior to construction works commencing it was agreed with the DEHLG, the NMI and the client that should archaeologically significant material be uncovered in the area in the vicinity of the Cathedral, proposed cable lines/ducting would be abandoned in order to reduce the potential impact on the archaeological resource. Considerable flexibility with regards to excavation was possible and, during the course of construction works, depth of excavation to facilitate ducting was kept to a minimum. Where possible, no excavation works was carried out for the pathways and in areas where the pathways were constructed without the need for excavation these works were preceded with the laying of terram overlaid by gravel. Subsequent to encountering human remains, osteologist Camilla Lofqvist assisted with monitoring of groundworks.
During the course of initial groundworks for the most southerly pathway (i.e. that closest to the cathedral) a localised area of disarticulated human bone was encountered. A cut was also evident. The excavations in this area were immediately stopped. The human remains were preserved in situ, covered with a layer of terram and sand and the trench backfilled. It was agreed with the client that no further excavations would be carried out for this pathway. Subsequent works in this area were facilitated by building up the area and laying the pathway on top of imported fill.
As part of the works it was proposed to replace a metal fence at the rear of the site and to move the new wooden fence further to the south and closer to the bank of the hill on which Kildare Cathedral is located. The post-holes measured 0.3m by 0.3m in width with a maximum depth of 0.8m. Initial excavations were carried out by a mini-digger. The first post-hole, which was excavated adjacent to the existing metal fence to the south-west on the site, revealed a mixed fill. This was probably the result of previous excavations for the earlier fence and revealed some modern finds along with stray human bone.
In the second post-hole a human skull was encountered and construction works were immediately stopped. The human remains were covered with terram, fine sand and wooden boards to prevent any further disturbance. Subsequent post-holes were excavated either by auger (which proved to be intrusive and unsuitable) or by hand in order to avoid impacting on any further human remains. The post-holes were then filled with concrete and the wooden fence was erected, while the pre-existing metal fence was removed.
Excavation was carried out in a south–north direction for CCTV/ESB trenches. The first trench was started at the northern end of the site and followed a zigzag pattern as part of the ‘St Bridget’s cross’ layout of the garden path. During the excavation at the southern part two possible burials (Burials 1 and 2) and stray human bone were encountered. Again excavations in the area were terminated. No further excavations were carried out at the southern end of the trench. The human remains were covered with terram, fine sand and wooden boards. The pipe was then laid on top of the boards and the trench backfilled.
Approximately 12m from the existing metal fence, at a depth of 0.4m, a burial was encountered (Sk3). The upper torso of the skeleton was slightly disturbed by the machine; however, this burial appeared to have been disturbed prior to the current work by an old stone drain. This drain ran north–south and was c. 0.6m wide. Excavations were discontinued at this location. The trench was moved slightly to the south so as not to further disturb Sk3. Upon further excavation, human bone was immediately encountered (Sk4) and excavation works were again stopped. This possible burial was detected in the north-facing section. During the examination and recording of this burial a further burial (SK5) was also detected in section. It would appear that this burial was of later date than Burial 4, as it had cut through the skull area. All these possible burials lay with the head towards the west and were located at a depth of 0.4–0.45m. The human remains were covered with terram, fine sand and wooden boards and were covered to prevent further disturbance. Trench D was moved again c. 1m to the north of Burials 4 and 5. No further human remains were detected but frequent animal bone (cattle, pig) was evident.
Previous excavations in Kildare have uncovered remains of the inner enclosure of the town. It can be said with certainty that there was a very large wooden church in the area in the 7th century. It is probable that an ecclesiastical complex was located in the area within an enclosure, delimited with a surrounding ditch. On the outskirts lay an area of commercial urban growth, probably also defined by an external bank and ditch. The route of the inner ditch conjecturally runs to the north of the site along the Lourdsville road. The discovery of a ditch feature encountered during the testing phase would seem to indicate early activity in this area generally, although it is not possible to say with any certainty that this ditch is associated with the early enclosure. Later works for the Anglo-Norman defences and even later field boundary works may be indicated by this ditch feature. It is also clear from the abandoned trenches that there is a significant burial-ground at the southern end of the site, extending northwards at the western side.