County: Kildare Site name: Boston Hill, Drinnanstown South
Sites and Monuments Record No.: Not applicable Licence number: 14E0196 (Ext.)
Author: Billy Quinn
Site type: Pits of archaeological potential
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 671197m, N 719169m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.218157, -6.933941
Monitoring for the extension of a quarry was carried out on the southern slope of Boston Hill, Drinnanstown South between 8 and 12 May 2017. The area comprised a strip in a broad arable field measuring 217m north-north-west/south-south-east by 35m wide. The works were carried out by a 21 tonne excavator with a flat ditching bucket. The topsoil was a light brown, silty clay with a depth of 0.2-0.25m overlaying a compact orange-grey natural clay (0.3m) on limestone bedrock.
An area of archaeological potential was noted near the eastern boundary of the field at ITM 671338/719410. It was apparent as a roughly oval platform of compact orange-brown silty clay measuring18m north-south by 17m 0.18-0.2m below the surface. Within this platform were several amorphous features with darker silty fills containing charcoal fleck and oxidised clay. One circular feature measuring 0.25m in diameter was trowelled back and appears to be the very fragile rim of a buried earthenware vessel. Given the scale, siting and the presence of potential infilled pits this area may represent the ploughed-out remains of a barrow.
To ensure the safety of the site, the oval platform was cordoned off with bollards and barrier tape. The site of the vessel was covered with clay and a layer of geo-textile. The National Monuments Service was subsequently notified. It is proposed to carry out a geophysical survey of the site to assess the extent of the archaeological deposits. The results of this survey will inform a future mitigation strategy that may require a full excavation.
Moore Archaeological and Environmental Services Ltd. No 3 Gort Na Ri, Athenry, Co. Galway
