County: Kildare Site name: Ballyoulster and Donaghcumper, Celbridge
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 21E0816
Author: Marc Piera
Site type: Medieval Enclosure/settlement, ring-ditch (prehistoric)
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 698300m, N 733181m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.339721, -6.523912
Archaeological testing was undertaken to study the impact, if any, on the archaeological and historical resource of a proposed development, which is located at Ballyoulster and Donaghcumper, Celbridge, County Kildare. The assessment was carried out as part of a preplanning archaeological investigation. Two phases of testing followed on from a geophysical survey of the site, which was carried out by Target Archaeological Geophysics Ltd. in 2021 (Licence 20R0270). The survey identified responses indicative of a large settlement enclosure that occupies c.1ha of land within the proposed development area. The geophysical survey also recorded a ring-ditch, remnants of a possible early field system, responses from past and present cultivation and former field boundaries.
Two phases of test trenching were undertaken using a 13-tonne 360 degree tracked excavator equipped with a flat, toothless bucket under strict archaeological supervision. A total of 80 trenches were excavated measuring c. 4,094 linear metres. The trenches targeted geophysical anomalies and open green space to fully investigate the archaeological potential of the site. Any investigated deposits were preserved by record.
Testing revealed 13 areas of archaeological significance, which have been designated as Archaeological Areas AA1-AA13. These comprise:
AA1-a medieval enclosure/settlement with multiple ditches and pits,
AA2-a ring ditch of probable prehistoric date,
AA3-a possible field boundary ditch,
AA4-a cluster of pits and ditches of medieval date,
AA5-a cluster of pits and ditches of medieval date
AA6-a medieval ditch,
AA7-a medieval ditch and two pits
AA8–AA13- isolated pits and hearth/kilns of unknown date.
An archaeological conservation/management plan will be developed in order to inform future operations of the development and ensure the areas are managed appropriately. The plan will be compiled by a suitably qualified archaeologist and contain a list of proscribed activities and policies on future site maintenance.
c/o IAC Ltd, Unit G1 Network Enterprise Park, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow
