County: Dublin Site name: 'BREHONS CHAIR', Taylorsgrange
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: —
Author: Valerie Keeley
Site type: Megalithic tomb - portal tomb
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 715779m, N 725483m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.267044, -6.264369
Excavation resumed at this site for a ten-week period in 1986.
To date the three seasons of excavation have produced a significant amount of material and structures indicative of settlement. These consisted of pits, postholes, stakeholes, a linear trench and a unique stone-built structure. The linear trench extends across the excavated area for some 21m in a W-E direction; at this point it turns abruptly and extends for 8m in a northerly direction. The actual length and overall shape of this feature have not yet been established.
A secondary phase of use of this trench was discovered at the point where it extends northward. In this area the trench was lined with substantial upright stones of granite. A series of capstones/lintels covered the trench. At either end, north and south of this, a bowl-like arrangement of stones existed. Significant burning had taken place within the structure, represented by a large amount of burnt orange clay and charcoal.
To the east of this structure several stakeholes were found, some of which contained fragments of cremated bone. In close proximity to the southern bowl a deposit of burnt material containing cremated bone was uncovered.
The material assemblage is consistent with that already recovered. It is expected to complete the excavation in 1987.
August-Lammule Str. 4, 7408 Kusterdingen, West Germany
