2024:311 - Kilglass, Carbury, Kildare

A total of 26 trenches measuring 3661 linear meters were excavated in the course of the works at Kilglass Quarry, Carbury, Co. Kildare. Crop harvesting schedules resulted in the excavation being divided into two phases. Phase 1 works were undertaken between 9-12 September 2024. Trenches 1-12 were excavated totalling 2180 linear metres. Phase 2 works were undertaken from 2-5 December 2024. Trenches 13-26 were excavated totalling 1481 linear meters.

The topsoil/plough soil (C1) measured 0.15-0.4m deep across site depending on location and comprised light brown friable silty clay. A lower layer, a B horizon (C2), comprised dark brown silty clay, more compact than the plough soil, with occasional modern inclusions, and measured 0.3-0.5m deep. The natural subsoil (C3) comprised a light-yellow brown clay with frequent small stone, occasional grey stone, gravel or sand patches throughout.

Historical mapping depicts several field boundaries in the north of Field 4 on the 1837 OS map which were levelled by the time the 1888-1915 OS map was surveyed. Trenches 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 & 19 were located in this area and found evidence of these field boundaries. Six field boundary ditches were recorded during the test excavation, C5, C6, C7, C8, C9 & C10. These varied in alignment and measured between 0.75m to 1.7m wide x 0.4m to 0.75m deep. Red brick was recovered from ditch C10, in Trench 19. It is possible that C4, C5 and C6 represents the same north-north-west/south-south-east aligned ditch.

Nothing of archaeological significance was recorded during Phase 1 or Phase 2 of the Test Excavation.