2018:821 - Branganstown, Kildare

A series of earthen ditches were uncovered during testing at Branganstown (licence 17E0158). Further testing and excavation was undertaken at these remains under licence 18E0567.
The proposed development includes a large enclosing ditch (C19). This had multiple fills and was between 1.5m and 2m in depth and up to 2m in width. The ditch was approximately 50m north-west/south-east by 55m. It contained locally-made pottery of a type in use in Ireland from the 12th to the 14th century. A number of associated ditches have also been recorded running into C19. All these ditches were of similar date and containing medieval local pottery. A number of other finds including a medieval pin were also recorded in C5, a ditch at the east of the site. The interior of the site was not fully excavated; it contains a boundary hedge which will be maintained and is within a green area of the development which will be preserved in situ.
A small circular enclosure was contained within C19 at the south-west. This had a diameter of approximately 15m and was 1m in width and 0.9m in depth. A series of burials were also recorded in this area. These predated ditch C5. These were deposited in a haphazard manor and were not part of a formal burial ground. One of the skeletons was cut by the ditch C5 (S1). Initial examination of the remains indicated a violent end for a number of the burials, skeleton 3 included cut marks to the vertebrae. One of the skulls was burnt and buried separately to the rest of the remains (S7), and one of the skulls had evidence of a heavy blow that is likely to have been the cause of death. This correlates with the historic evidence for the area which shows the coroner for Kildare and Meath being based in the townland of Branganstown. The damage to the skeletons and their haphazard burial would indicate that they were of low status. The marks on the vertebrae of skeleton 3 are consistent with the records from the townland dating from 1302. This details the murder of John de Lounge and the beheading of the culprit William O’Flynn. S7 only contained the skull which had been burnt after death. This could be consistent with the lack of respect for a murderer after he was executed. Although a direct correlation between the historic record and the archaeological remains cannot be proven, the similarities and location are striking.
A number of small pits were also excavated external to the ditches at the south-east. These included evidence of intense burning and may have been used to process grains.

Co. Offaly