County: Kildare Site name: Jigginstown, Naas
Sites and Monuments Record No.: n/a Licence number: 17E0217
Author: Aidan O’Connell
Site type: Ringfort
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 687860m, N 718650m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.211001, -6.684647
The site was excavated in advance of a residential development. Approximately half the 35m diameter enclosure was available for excavation. The remainder lay outside the site boundary. Excavation confirmed the presence of an early medieval ringfort or enclosed settlement with evidence for occupation in the form of pits, post-holes etc. Charcoal, charred seeds, animal bone and a selection of early medieval artefacts were recovered. This assemblage and radiocarbon dating indicated occupation between the seventh to tenth centuries AD. The ringfort is one of several early medieval enclosures identified or excavated in the wider Naas area.
Two phases of activity were recorded within the ditch stratigraphy. The first phase consisted of a V-shaped ditch (3.1m wide x 1.7m deep) with an eastern causewayed entrance. Animal bone was present in small quantities. Charred barely from the primary fill was radiocarbon dated to 1233 BP ± 36 with a calibrated age of AD 685-883 (D-AMS 031379). A single iron object (17E0217:9:1) was recovered. The object was broken (35mm long x 25mm wide). It was formed from flatted iron (rectangular cross section 4mm x 2mm), with the surviving end turned into a loop.
The ringfort ditch was subsequently recut with a shallow ditch (1.6m wide x 0.35m deep) that largely retained the original shape. It was excavated through the original entrance way, where a roughly-formed layer of limestone boulders (up to 0.25m in maximum width) was laid down over the former causeway. A small quantity of animal bone was present within and a copper alloy ringed pin, fragments of a bone pin, an iron knife fragment (blade portion), and a fragment of an iron pin were also retrieved. Charcoal (hazel) from this phase was radiocarbon dated to 1164 BP ± 28 with a calibrated age of 773-965 AD (D-AMS 031378). Internal features included an occupation layer, pits, hearths, post-holes and gullies.
Monitoring of construction works across the remainder of the site were undertaken and no additional archaeological sites or features were recorded.
Archer Heritage Planning, 8 Beat Centre, Stephenstown, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin.
