EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Kildare
Narraghmore, Co. Kildare
Early Medieval Settlement Enclosure.
Grid Ref: N788001 (27880/20010)
SMR No: N/A
Excavation Licence: E000097
Excavation Duration/Year: Spring 1971.
Site Director: T. Fanning (Office of Public Works)
The site consisted of a triple-banked enclosure, with two intervening ditches, which enclosed
an area 55m by 70m (Fig. 174). The enclosure was set on top of a ridge, and had been
largely destroyed by gravel extraction. Excavation was required as future quarrying
threatened to destroy the entire site.
Excavation through the banks and ditches revealed that the cores of the banks were
constructed from the up-cast from the ditches. The outer bank appeared to have had an
internal stone revetment, and a palisade trench was identified along the top of the inner
bank. There was some evidence of pre-enclosure activity in the form of two fire-pits which
were discovered beneath these banks.
Only a small portion of the interior survived to be excavated. A number of small pits were
discovered in the occupation layer, but these appear to have been rubbish pits, filled with
animal bones and charcoal, rather than structural postholes. Very few finds were recovered
from the interior. These consisted of a stone spindle-whorl; an iron object; a piece of iron
slag; and a flint flake.
Fig. 174: Plan of Narraghmore, Co. Kildare (after Fanning 1972, 170).
331