County: Dublin Site name: TAYLORSGRANGE
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: —
Author: Valerie Keeley, for Dublin County Council
Site type: Megalithic tomb - portal tomb
Period/Dating: Neolithic (4000BC-2501 BC)
ITM: E 715439m, N 725564m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.267840, -6.269424
For a three -month period from the 15th July–4th October 1985 archaeological excavation took place at the Brehon's Chair Portal Tomb, Taylorsgrange.
The only above-ground evidence of the monument consists of three granite orthostats, comprising the two portals and the doorstone.
This, the second season of excavation, uncovered the remains of cairn material on the north side of the orthostats. A large area of habitation features was discovered, first appearing 30 metres away from the orthostats and extending to 55m. These features consist of a series of postholes and pits; a stonelined ash spread; a refuse pit, and a long trench-like feature. This trench measures approximately 75cm by 7m. Sections to date revealed lenses of charcoal and burnt earth.
A secondary intrusion into the cairn was also uncovered. This takes the form of a Vase Food Vessel with cremation. So far the finds recovered from the site consist of a good cross-section of Neolithic/Earlier Bronze Age material. The flint assemblage is represented by knives, blades, scrapers and one arrowhead. A large amount of cores and debitage including trimming flakes is indicative of an advanced flint technology. A slightly damaged quern stone of granite was recovered from the refuse pit.
Four types of pottery have been distinguished: two types of fine Neolithic ware; funerary ware, recovered from the chamber area, and coarse ware. A further season of excavation is proposed.
