County: Kildare Site name: LEINSTER STREET, MAYNOOTH
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 13E033
Author: Martin E. Byrne
Site type: No archaeological significance
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 693710m, N 737602m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.380273, -6.591504
Planning permission for the construction of a new funeral home development required that the development plot be subject to an Impact Assessment, including a programme of testing.
There are a number of Recorded Monuments located in the general environs of the site, the nearest being a former Parish School incorporating a reused medieval door and window architectural fragments (KD005-014), located c. 50m to the south of the development area. No surface traces of archaeological interest/potential were noted as a result of cartographic or aerial photographic research undertaken in the preparation of assessment and, likewise, no surface features of archaeological potential were noted as a result of a subsequent surface reconnaissance survey.
A total of twelve test trenches, of varying lengths and orientations, were excavated within the boundaries of the site. All trenches were excavated by machine fitted with a toothless ditching/grading bucket (1.5m wide), following which the sides and bases were cleaned by hand and visually examined. In addition, all the spoil generated by the excavation of the test trenches was ‘raked-over’ in an attempt to increase the potential for the recovery of archaeological artefacts. The results from the testing were consistently similar. The topsoil comprised moderately compact mid-dark brown sandy silty clay with moderate pebbles and small-medium cobbles, occasional large cobbles and very occasional small stones dispersed randomly throughout. The topsoil, which was 0.28– 0.37m in depth/thickness, lay directly upon very compact orange/grey sandy clay containing moderate pebbles, cobbles and small stones, with occasional veins of grey clayey sand. This was investigated in a number of areas to a depth of 0.5m. Such investigations indicated that this basal layer represent the sterile natural subsoil. No features, structures, deposits or artefacts of archaeological interest or potential were uncovered during the course of the testing.
Byrne Mullins & Associates, 7 Cnoc Na Greine Square, Kilcullen, Co. Kildare
