New Book About Archaeological Discoveries on the M9 Motorway in South Kildare Published by Transport Infrastructure Ireland
Book launch hosted by Kildare County Council in Athy Library
Landscapes With Lineage, the latest title published in the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) Heritage series was launched in Athy Library, Co Kildare by Dr Sharon Greene, archaeologist from South Kildare, former editor of Archaeology Ireland magazine and member of the County Kildare Monuments Advisory Committee.
The book, co-written by Colm Moloney, Patricia Long and Ros Ó Maoldúin, presents the results of archaeological investigations along the M9 Kilcullen to Carlow motorway and Athy Link Road.
In collaboration with the National Museum of Ireland, guests at the launch were treated to a display of a selection of archaeological objects, including prehistoric stone tools and medieval pottery, uncovered during the excavations by archaeologists from Rubicon Archaeology. The launch was also attended by Leas Cathaoirleach of the County of Kildare, Councillor Veralouise Behan along with Rónán Swan, Head of Archaeology and Heritage at Transport Infrastructure Ireland.
Construction of the M9 Kilcullen to Carlow motorway and Athy link road led to the systematic archaeological investigations of a 27.5 km long slice of land through south County Kildare. Before road building commenced, archaeologists used a variety of survey and excavation techniques to examine the more than 200 hectares of land required for construction. All the archaeological evaluations were overseen by TII’s project archaeologists and carried out under licence from the National Monuments Service. This work resulted in the identification of ninety-seven previously unknown archaeological sites which were excavated and fully recorded before construction began.
Speaking at the launch, Dr Sharon Greene, archaeologist, former editor of Archaeology Ireland magazine and member of the County Kildare Monuments Advisory Committee; “Landscapes with Lineage is an important book on more than one level. It makes the archaeological discoveries of this project accessible in an attractive format to a wide audience; it explains and gives context to those discoveries, and provides a valuable insight into the scale, variety and significance of the archaeology that is largely hidden beneath the surface of this busy farming landscape. Hopefully this book will attract the attention of archaeologists wishing to carry out further research into this historically rich area, as well as providing useful, up-to-date information for anyone interested in learning more about it, be it for school projects or their own pleasure.”
Colm Moloney, Director, Rubicon Archaeology and one of the book’s authors said: “The publication of this book is the culmination of nearly 20 years of work for Rubicon Archaeology Ltd. We are delighted to have delivered it in partnership with Kildare County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland and are immensely proud of the high-quality result. This project is a significant milestone in the company’s development and I would like to thank the hundreds of employees, past and present, who contributed to its success – both in the field during the excavations and in the many years of post-excavation analysis and reporting since the fieldwork ended.”
Rónán Swan, Head of Archaeology and Heritage, Transport Infrastructure Ireland added: “TII is delighted with the publication of Landscapes with Lineage, the sixteenth book in the TII Heritage Series. This book is the result of collaboration between the public and private sectors and makes available significant new archaeological information for researchers. This book is an example of TII’s is commitment to accessibly sharing the results of significant archaeological investigations undertaken as a result of the development of Ireland’s transport networks as widely as possible.”
This was the most extensive archaeological investigation undertaken in this historic landscape. The motorway excavations revealed evidence of human activity spanning almost 9,000 years. Significant discoveries included stone tools used by the earliest hunter-gatherer communities who inhabited the area. Prehistoric ritual monuments, and a number of very significant Bronze Age, Iron Age and early medieval cemeteries. AS well as the remains of rural farming settlements from all eras.
Scientific examination of charred seeds, charcoal and animal bones provided evidence that revealed changes in subsistence strategies and people's interactions with the environment over time. Analysis of the skeletal remains found at the burial sites shed light on the lives the people who lived in this area led, the diseases and illnesses they suffered from, and the rituals they followed when burying departed members of their communities.
The authors of Landscapes With Lineage marshal the evidence from the excavations and scientific analyses to examine how successive communities inhabited, modified and understood this landscape, while also offering insights into broader patterns of continuity and change in this region from prehistoric to recent times. This complex interplay between continuity and change, between environmental constraints and human agency, between practical needs and cultural meanings, has shaped the archaeological record of south Kildare over millennia and the evidence discovered has revealed a landscape with lineage.
The book is richly illustrated with many specially commissioned maps, photographs, drawings and reconstructions.
The Authors
Colm Moloney is a graduate of University College Cork and the University of Leicester. He is the founder of Rubicon Archaeology Ltd and directed excavations along the route of the M9.
Patricia Long is a graduate of University College Cork and is the Managing Director of Rubicon Archaeology Ltd. Patricia also directed excavations along the route of the M9.
Ros Ó Maoldúin is a graduate of the University of Bradford and received a PhD from the University of Galway. Ros is Head of Publications at Rubicon Archaeology Ltd but is currently on leave to undertake excavations on behalf of the Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention at Tuam.
Landscapes With Lineage is available in selected bookshops and can be purchased from the Wordwell Books website - https://wordwellbooks.com, it retails at €25.
