2022:945 - Hempstown Commons, Kildare

A programme of Archaeological Testing was undertaken within the extent of a proposed single residential development as part of the preparation of an Archaeological Impact Assessment recommended by the National Monuments Service and in advance of a planning application.

The proposed development plot is partially located within a Zone of Archaeological Potential/Notification associated with a Cist (KD020-015001) and Rock Art (KD020-015002) which were revealed by land improvement works in 1949; the features were recorded by Hartnett (1950, 193-8) and subsequently destroyed. Archaeological Testing of a residential plot in which the monument was located was undertaken by Eoin O’Sullivan (Licence No: 21E0322) but did not uncover and subsurface evidence for the monument, although a burnt spread was uncovered in the north-eastern area of the plot; such investigations also determined that the levels within much of this plot had been raised with construction-related fill, to a depth of approximately 1.5m, and capped with topsoil.

Seven trenches were excavated within the extent of the proposed application area, measuring from 30–47m in length. The results from the trenches indicated that the levels across most of the plot had been raised by the introduction of modern construction fill; the only areas where the subsoil was revealed/exposed was in the northern extent of T1 at a depth of 0.63 below groung level (bgl), at the northern end of T2 at a depth of 0.7m bgl and at the western end of T7 at a depth of 320mmm bgl; this comprised moderately compact orange/brown, slightly stony clay, the surface of which was disturbed in places where the fill material had been compressed through; where exposed, the surface of the subsoil was cleaned and visually examined and nothing of archaeological interest/potential was uncovered.

Reference:

Hartnett, P.J. 1950. ‘A Crouched Burial at Hempstown Commons, Co. Kildare’, J.R.S.A.I, Vol. 80, pp. 193-198.