2020:818 - KELLYSTOWN, Kildare

Advance archaeological test trenching was carried out across the 2.3km grid route for two 220kV underground circuits in the townlands of Bogganstown, Co. Meath, and Ravensdale and Kellystown, Co. Kildare. Seven recorded monuments were located in the vicinity of this route, none of which were directly impacted by these works. The overall area to be stripped for construction purposes spread across 6 fields and measured c.1.9km in length x c.40m in width giving a total area of c. 57000m². Length of trenches varied slightly due to field boundaries and various topographical features. Considerable evidence for stone-lined drainage channels or gullies was identified particularly in the southern area of the route. These represent various efforts at land improvement works probably over the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries. Topsoil ceramic and glass finds relating to 19th-century activity were recovered from Fields 4, 5 & 6. A single flint artefact recovered from Field 6 is indicative of prehistoric activity in this area. Three areas of archaeological significance or potential were identified in Field 3 during this programme of testing: Trench 2 AAP1 Possible pit & linear feature, Trench 3 AS1 Burnt Spread and Trench 5 AAP3 Large ditch feature. The burnt spread AS1 in Field 3, Trench 3 is clearly identifiable as a fulacht fiadh.