2021:426 - MOORETOWN (Castleknock By.), Dublin

Several features of archaeological potential were identified during archaeological monitoring of the removal of topsoil at the site of the permitted development for Unit 638, Northwest Logistics Park, Mitchelstown, Dublin 15. The features comprised a possible hearth and nearby post-holes, and two isolated pits.

The hearth was oval in plan and orientated south-west to north-east and measuring at least 1.25m in length, 1.2m in width and 0.45m in depth. It had rounded corners, a sharp to moderate break of slope at the top, concave sides, and a moderate break of slope to its U-shaped base. It contained three distinct fills that can be summarised as follows from bottom to top: an initial firing at the base, waste/burnt material in the middle, and a silted-up layer filling the top. A sample of charcoal material has been sent for C14 dating. The hearth had been re-cut and re-used once. The feature was initially thought to be a kiln, however no seeds were identified in the samples taken from the fill and there was no indication of it being cleaned out often and reused. An interpretation as a simple hearth that was re-cut is more plausible for the feature.

Two shallow post-holes were identified next to each other and 1m west of the hearth. Two isolated small pits were also excavated elsewhere within the development site. No dateable material was recovered from any of these features.

The townland boundary between Mooretown and Mitchelstown runs between Fields 1 and 2 within the development site. The curvilinear ditch weaves its way between the two fields in an irregular line. A section was opened across the townland boundary bank and ditch within Field 1 where a breach is proposed to establish its nature and extent. The bank has been highly disturbed from root and burrowing activity and little remains of an actual solid bank. What does survive is a bank of mid-to dark brown silty sand with a high humic content and of moderate to loose compaction. It has a maximum height of 0.7m and a maximum width of 3.5m. It is notable that the bank is not comprised of re-deposited natural boulder clay that would have been presumed adjacent to a ditch. The associated ditch runs along the Field 1 side of the bank. It has a gradual break of slope at its top, concave sides and an almost imperceptible break of slope at its near-flat base. It is 2.5m wide and 0.4m deep. It is filled with a loose to moderately compacted dark reddish-brown silty sand with a high humic content. The fill has formed as a result of the silting up of the ditch with organic debris from the trees on the bank. No features or artefacts of archaeological significance were recorded at the townland boundary.

Following the C14 dating of the soil sample, a final report on the archaeological findings will be submitted to the National Monuments Service, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.