County: Dublin Site name: Palmerstown
Sites and Monuments Record No.: n/a Licence number: 18E0040
Author: David Bayley, IAC Ltd
Site type: Enclosure - early medieval?
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 692343m, N 721318m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.234212, -6.616781
A programme of test trenching was undertaken at Palmerstown (Johnstown), Co. Kildare as part of a pre-planning assessment of a development area. It follows a previous assessment report by Faith Bailey in January 2018 and a geophysical survey carried out by Joanna Leigh (Licence Ref.: 18R0006).
A total of 13 archaeological test trenches were mechanically excavated across the footprint of the proposed development area, measuring 519 linear metres in total. The trenches were set out to assess the archaeological potential of anomalies identified during the geophysical survey. The trench layout was mainly focused upon the central portion of the triangular-shaped site where geophysical responses detected a higher likelihood of archaeological activity.
A total of five trenches were found to contain archaeological remains. The geophysical survey suggested the presence of a potential enclosure with a diameter of c. 40m at the centre of the site. Testing confirmed the presence of this feature along with associated internal features. The lack of any datable finds recovered from the ditch fills means that a date cannot be confidently assigned to the enclosure, although it may represent the remains of an early medieval enclosure based on the scale of the features identified. Two struck pieces of flint were recovered from a curvilinear and a linear feature within the enclosure, which may indicate a potential prehistoric date, but these may also be residual.
IAC Ltd, Unit G1, Network Enterprise Park, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow
