2020:524 - KILDARE: Chapel Hill, Kildare

A programme of archaeological test pitting and test trenching in accordance with Ministerial Consent C001005 and Excavation Registration Number E5229 was undertaken in advance of a proposed development at Chapel Lane, Kildare. Features of archaeological significance were identified within the proposed development area.

The most significant of the features identified is the east-north-east/west-south-west aligned ditch (011) that follows the line of the Cathedral wall and possibly represents the town defenses KD022-029009 in this location. It is also possible that this ditch could represent a third enclosing ditch KD022-029058, that defined the ecclesiastical site KD022-029002 prior to the construction of the stone wall that bounds St Brigid’s Cathedral KD022-0029005. A second large ditch (016) was identified on a north–south orientation and may also relate to land enclosure associated with the ecclesiastical site. The remaining archaeological features consist of pit-type and linear-type features possibly associated with activity undertaken within the enclosed lands of the ecclesiastical site. No diagnostic artefacts were recovered from the features of probable medieval date.