2010:401 - HARRISTOWN, Kildare

Testing was undertaken of proposed development lands at Harristown, Brannockstown in January 2010. The testing was carried out as part of the preparation of an Archaeological Impact Assessment requested by the planning authority with respect to an application to construct a single residential unit on the site. The site is located at the northernmost extent of a zone of archaeological potential established for Harristown, a short-lived 17th-century borough containing the ruinous remains of a 15th-century tower-house. The extent of the borough is unclear, although there is a complex of earthworks located to the south-east of the castle remains.
A total of nineteen test-trenches of differing lengths and orientations were excavated within the overall extent of the subject site. The chosen locations of the trenches largely reflected the proposed layout and existing topography. The trenches were excavated by machine fitted with a toothless ditching/grading bucket, following which the sides and bases were cleaned by hand and inspected. In addition, all spoil generated by the excavation process was subsequently ‘raked over’ in an effort to increase the chances of artifact recovery.
The results from the trenches were largely similar. The topsoil, which varied in depth from 0.2m–0.28m, comprised a mid-brown with reddish hue sandy silty clay with moderate amounts of pebbles and cobbles and occasional small stones dispersed randomly throughout. This lay upon orange/brown sandy clay with a similar stony matrix to the topsoil. This layer was uncovered across the greater part of the site and represents sterile ‘natural’ subsoil.
No features, structures or deposits of archaeological interest were uncovered during the process of test excavation and the only truncation/disturbance to the subsoil was caused either by tree roots or the laying of a water pipe connection for drinking troughs.
A total of nineteen sherds of pottery, mostly of post-medieval date but some of possible medieval date, were recovered from the topsoil during the process of testing. These were dispersed randomly across the test-trenches and there were no discernible concentrations. The pottery sherds have been submitted for specialist analysis. In addition, portions of four clay pipe stems were also recovered, the style and form of which indicate that they are of 19th-century date.