County: Dublin Site name: BREHON'S CHAIR, Taylorsgrange
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 22:33 Licence number: 96E0091
Author: Tim Coughlan for Margaret Gowen and Co. Ltd. Rath House
Site type: Megalithic tomb - portal tomb
Period/Dating: Neolithic (4000BC-2501 BC)
ITM: E 712926m, N 726527m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.277039, -6.306744
An initial archaeological assessment had been formally requested by the Heritage Service for additional information prior to a planning decision, as the proposed development site is located very close to a known archaeological site, the Brehon’s Chair.
Archaeological excavations of the tomb and its immediate area were carried out between 1984 and 1987 by V.J. Keeley in advance of construction of the Southern Cross Motorway. The excavations around and to the north of the tomb revealed a range of associated features, ranging in date from the Neolithic period (contemporary with the construction of the tomb) to the early Bronze Age (c. 2500 BC). The excavations also established that the tomb had contained burials, attested by the presence of charcoal and cremated bone, and was originally covered by an oval cairn of earth and stones. This cairn material contained a secondary burial which was accompanied by an inverted vase food vessel. Other associated archaeological features included a linear feature and a number of pits and stake-holes, all of which are thought to represent habitation (Excavations 1985, 23–4; Excavations 1986, 18; Excavations 1987,14–15).
The present assessment took place between 29 April and 3 May 1996 and was based on the inspection of eleven mechanically excavated test-trenches. A number of possible archaeological features were revealed in these trenches and it was recommended that further exploratory work, in the form of geophysical survey, should be undertaken on the site. A magnetometer survey identified a number of geophysical anomalies, and ten further archaeological test-trenches were opened along the lines of the geophysical anomalies to establish whether they represented areas of archaeological interest. This additional assessment was carried out on 2 August 1996 and some of the geophysical anomalies were found to be geological.
Both phases of the archaeological assessment revealed small, localised archaeological features which consisted of pits cut into natural subsoil and filled with charcoal-flecked brown soil. It was recommended that all ground preparation works be archaeologically monitored and that the removal of topsoil be carried out in stages. This will ensure that all isolated archaeological features will be recognised and can be appropriately recorded.
Ferndale Rd, Rathmichael, Co. Dublin
