Excavation - miscellaneous

The National Monuments Service's description

In 1995, archaeological trial trenching (O’Donovan 1996. Excavation Licence No. 95E0265) in advance of a proposed Local Authority development revealed some 36 medieval pits, and a segment of a fairly substantial ditch (KD040-002045-). The pits varied in size (min. diam. 0.75m; D 0.34m – max. diam 3.94m; D 2.78m) and, while some were cut into one another, most were cut into the natural yellow boulder clay subsoil. All produced substantial quantities of pottery and animal bone. The pottery was largely Irish and included glazed and unglazed wares of 13th and 14th-century date. A large assemblage of soot-encrusted Leinster cooking ware was also recovered. The excavator suggests that the pits may have served a dual function: as well as being receptacles for domestic refuse, the clay dug out to form the pits might have been used for flooring, daub and pottery production.

Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy

Date of upload: 15 January 2013

References

O'Donovan, E. 1996. Archaeological assessment of a proposed development site at Main Street, Castledermot, Co. Kildare. Unpublished report, National Monuments Service, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dublin.