2008:680 - Oldtown Demesne, Naas, Kildare

Testing was carried out as part of the preparation of an archaeological impact assessment requested by the National Monuments Service following the submission of a pre-planning enquiry. The site, which is located in the northern suburbs of Naas, forms part of the estate and townland of Oldtown Demesne.
There is one known monument located within the overall proposed development area. This is described in the RMP as a possible enclosure site – based on a circular feature indicated on Taylor’s map of 1783. However, there are no further representations for this enclosure or any other possible features of archaeological potential illustrated on the later OS maps There are no surface traces of the enclosure, which is confirmed in a note contained in the files of the Archaeological Survey of Ireland dating to 1985. There is a tear-shaped mound, with its long axis running roughly north–south, located approximately on, or adjacent to, the site of the possible enclosure. The mound measures c. 14m east–west by 18m, with its main bulk towards the northern end, where it rises to a height of c. 3m. In general, the north- and east-facing arcs slope sharply down from the top, while the remaining sides have relatively gentle slopes The general appearance of the mound is very indicative of a spoil heap, and it is noted that there are similar spoil heaps in the immediate vicinity. There is no mention of any spoil heaps or mounds contained in the ASI inspection report of 1985, indicating that the mounds are of recent origin and of no archaeological interest.
A total of 24 trenches were excavated within the undisturbed and undeveloped greenfield eastern area of the site. No attempt was made to determine the extent of the possible enclosure site as its location is within a proposed green-space area. In general, the results from the test-trenches were similar. The topsoil, with a depth of up to 0.32m, comprised moderately loose silty clay loam with moderate pebbles and small cobbles and occasional medium cobbles and lay directly upon sterile subsoil of orange/brown compact clay with moderate pebbles, cobbles and occasional small stones. No features or artefacts of archaeological interest were uncovered during the course of the testing. Consequently, it was suggested that removal of the spoil heaps along the eastern area of the site should be undertaken under supervision and that the surface levels with the open space containing the site of the possible enclosure be raised by a c. 0.2m layer of topsoil in order that no accidental damage is caused to the site of the possible monument during landscaping works. Furthermore it was suggested that this area be treated as an archaeological buffer area and should only be planted with shallow-rooted shrubs.