%0 Object %T Archaeological excavation report, E2960 Woodlands West VOL 1, County Kildare. %A National Roads Authority %D %8 %E O'Neill, Nial; Headland Archaeology Ltd %I National Roads Authority; Transport Infrastructure Ireland %X This final report presents the results of the archaeological resolution works carried out on behalf of Kildare County Council and the National Roads Authority as part of the Archaeological Services Contract No. 6 ? Resolution, Moone to Prumplestown. The works were undertaken prior to the commencement of construction of the N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford Scheme: Phase 3, Kilcullen to Carlow. The Minister of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government, following consultation with the National Museum of Ireland, issued Directions to Kildare County Council on 8 March 2007 for archaeological resolution works relating to the road development. The registration number, E2960, was allocated by the Department for the excavation of the present site in Woodlands West townland under the directorship of Tom Janes of Headland Archaeology (Ireland) Ltd. An Environmental Impact Assessment was published in 2003 for the Kilcullen to Powerstown Scheme, with Valerie J Keeley Ltd preparing the Archaeological, Architectural and Cultural Heritage Assessment. This formed Chapter 10 of the EIS produced by the Roughan and OÍDonovan ? Faber Maunsell Alliance. Geophysical prospection was carried out on certain areas of high archaeological potential by Bartlett?Clark Consultancy as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment, on behalf of Valerie J. Keeley Ltd/Kildare County Council. Aerial photography was undertaken along the entire route selection as part of the non?invasive assessment after the EIA stage. This work was carried out in April 2004 by Markus Casey. Archaeological testing carried out by CRDS Ltd under N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford Scheme: Kilcullen to Powerstown. Archaeological Services Contract No. Contract No. 2 _ Test Excavations, Mullamast to Prumplestown and Athy Link Road under Ministerial Direction Numbers A021/155 on this site between 29 May and 31 May 2006 identified an enclosure ditch, a feature interpreted as a corn drying kiln, pits, postholes and linear features (Jennings and ” Drisceoil 2006). Full archaeological resolution was conducted on this site between 5 May and 4 December 2007. The features identified during testing were re?identified along with a large number of other features. While residual Neolithic and prehistoric artefacts were recovered, a small pit located near the eastern baulk was dated to the 3rd to 6th centuries AD and represented the earliest feature on site. A kiln 26 m to the west with numerous postholes, stakeholes, pits and deposits in its immediate vicinity was shown to date to the later part of the early medieval period. One of two skeletons uncovered was also shown to date to this period. The main element of the site consisted of approximately 50% of an enclosure perimeter with associated internal and external features dating to the medieval period. Numerous pits, stakeholes and deposits were uncovered in the interior and immediately outside the enclosure and analysis of the artefactual assemblage has shown the enclosure dates to the Anglo?Norman period. The enclosure itself has been interpreted as a ringwork or ïcampaignÍ castleÍ, a structure thrown up quickly to seize a spot during the initial stages of a military campaign. A curvilinear ditch located immediately outside the enclosure appeared to respect its location. The site also contained a scattering of pits, postholes and deposits along with linear features criss?crossing the site probably representing field boundaries. A preliminary report of works on the site was completed by Headland Archaeology (Ireland) Ltd in June 2009. %G en %9 Text; Image; pdf %W Digital Repository of Ireland