2022:138 - DUNNSTOWN, Kildare

Test excavations were carried out in response to a planning application. One of the main aims of the excavation was to verify the presence of four RMP/SMR sites located within the available area for testing. Trenches were located to investigate the RMP/SMR sites and to assess the potential of the overall site, which is relatively large in scale, c. 6.5 hectares in extent though incorporating portions of an existing electricity substation. There are nine RMP/SMR sites within the site boundary, all enclosures identified from aerial photography. Five of these are located under the existing electricity substation. No evidence was identified for the presence of any of the four enclosure sites KD024-051001, KD024-051002, KD024-051003, & KD024-052004 within the area available for test excavations. While unlikely, it is not impossible that some remains of the potential enclosures may still exist on the site. Otherwise, the only feature of archaeological significance identified was an isolated pit with burnt stone inclusions. Numerous plough/cultivation furrows were identified in the subsoil.