2025:316 - Maria Villa, Maynooth, Kildare

Archaeological testing followed on from a geophysical survey carried out at the site (Dowling 2025, Licence No 25R0109). Test trenches targeted geophysical anomalies and open green space in order to fully investigate the archaeological potential of the site.

A total of 12 features of archaeological potential were recorded and have been grouped into eight areas of archaeological significance, designated as Archaeological Areas 1–8. These comprise: AA1 (1 Ring-ditch), AA2 (Ring-ditch), AA3 (1 Pit), AA4 (Ring-ditch), AA5 (2 ditches), AA6 (Burnt mound), AA7 (Burnt mound), AA8 (Burnt mound).

Four of these features, comprising spreads of heat-affected stone, are situated beside the river Rye (Areas 6, 7, 8) and are characteristic of burnt mound material. These are likely of a prehistoric date.

Three circular enclosures were recorded at the southern end of the site in Areas 1, 2 and 4. The largest of these was in AA2 where it measured 18m in diameter, followed by AA4  at 12m and AA1 at 8m. These have been interpreted as ringditches and are likely to be prehistoric in date. All three are located within close proximity and may represent prehistoric funerary activity within the local landscape. In 2017 approx. 400m south of the proposed development site archaeological excavations uncovered a Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age ritual complex comprising a large penannular enclosure, with associated likely contemporaneous internal pit-like features. Finds included perhapsthe remains of four undecorated bucket/barrel-shaped vessels from the top fill of the enclosure ditch. No habitation evidence was found within the enclosure which suggests a ritual function (Coughlan 2017, Licence 17E0208). The three enclosures uncovered during archaeological testing may be an extension or association of the same. One of the enclosures contained a recut perhaps suggesting continued ritual activity over a prolonged period.

The remaining archaeological features on the site have no identifiable definitive function or chronology. A single isolated pit was recorded in AA3 while in the south-east area of the site in AA5 2 ditch features were uncovered.

A number of field drains were recorded during testing, concentrated within the southern half of the site. Only a single drain was recorded near the river Rye at the north-western end of the site. The scarcity of drains nearest the river suggests little if any attempt previously to drain this area of the site which forms part of the river’s floodplain. Instead, the upper fields, just above the floodplain, were chosen. A single possible furrow was recorded within T20 furthest up on the slope from the floodplain, suggesting the lower undrained soils were never utilised for cultivation or ploughing and instead may only have been used for grazing of livestock.

Testing Plan