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Kildare<br />

‘Maynooth Castle’ (Maynooth td.), Co. Kildare<br />

Early Medieval Unenclosed House.<br />

Grid Ref: N92683867 (292687/238678)<br />

SMR No: KD005-015<br />

Excavation Licence: 96E391<br />

Excavation Duration/Year: 1996; 1997; 1998; 1999.<br />

Site Director: A. Hayden (Archaeological Projects Ltd.)<br />

Excavations were undertaken for a number <strong>of</strong> seasons at the keep <strong>of</strong> Maynooth Castle.<br />

During this a number <strong>of</strong> archaeological features were discovered under the sub-floor level <strong>of</strong><br />

the keep, relating to early medieval occupation. Four main structures were identified from<br />

this period – a rectangular building; a roundhouse; a corn-drying kiln; and a roundhouse with<br />

attached palisade.<br />

A rectangular structure was identified, outlined by a series <strong>of</strong> postholes, stakeholes and slot<br />

trenches (Fig. 188). <strong>The</strong> east wall measured 4.8m, with a 0.8m gap in the centre, flanked by<br />

large postholes, which represents the doorway. <strong>The</strong> remaining walls <strong>of</strong> this structure are not<br />

so clearly recognisable.<br />

A couple <strong>of</strong> roundhouses were also identified beneath the keep. <strong>The</strong>se are not synchronous,<br />

and the later roundhouse appears to have been associated with an attached palisade trench.<br />

This is the clearest pre-keep structure, and consists <strong>of</strong> a single arc <strong>of</strong> stakeholes for a wattlewalled<br />

house, 5m in internal diameter. A double series <strong>of</strong> stakeholes at the east <strong>of</strong> the house<br />

has been interpreted as a replaced section <strong>of</strong> walling. A central posthole, and a set <strong>of</strong> four<br />

internal postholes, was interpreted as holding ro<strong>of</strong> supports; and a series <strong>of</strong> stakeholes,<br />

inside the building, were interpreted as the remains <strong>of</strong> an internal division. Both <strong>of</strong> these<br />

roundhouses had associated central hearths.<br />

A keyhole-shaped corn-drying kiln was also discovered beneath the keep. Carbonised grains<br />

<strong>of</strong> oat and barley were recovered from its fill.<br />

<strong>The</strong> final phase <strong>of</strong> the pre-keep activity appears to have been agricultural, with a number <strong>of</strong><br />

cultivation ridges visible. <strong>The</strong>se appear to avoid the last roundhouse, and may therefore be<br />

associated with this phase <strong>of</strong> occupation. <strong>The</strong> roundhouse associated with the palisade is<br />

stratigraphically the most recent sub-keep structure, therefore it must be assumed that the<br />

rectangular house is prehistoric, probably Neolithic. <strong>The</strong> corn-drying kiln is also overlain by<br />

cultivation ridges, and it may be assumed that it is contemporary with the last roundhouse.<br />

Finds from the cultivation layer include prehistoric material (waste flint; half a stone axe<br />

head; a stone mace head), and early medieval material (a bead <strong>of</strong> jet/lignite, and a few<br />

corroded objects <strong>of</strong> bronze and iron).<br />

387

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