1997:096 - DALKEY: 59 Castle Street, Dublin

Excavation commenced at 59 Castle Street, Dalkey, on 28 October 1997 for a period of six weeks. This site is being developed for residential purposes.

Two previous testing programmes undertaken by Declan Murtagh (Excavations 1996, 18, 96E297) and Cia Mc Conway (Excavations 1997, No. 95) identified the presence of medieval features, which were interpreted as a linear ditch extending east-west across the site. As a result of these testing programmes, it was recommended that an area measuring 20m x 20m be manually excavated to reveal the extent of these features. Having consulted with the National Monuments and Historic Properties Service, it was agreed that a further trenching programme be undertaken in the northern area of the site to determine whether the proposed development would impinge upon any surviving archaeological features. This excavation revealed all the features previously identified in the testings.

Area A was the first to be examined, with the opening of five trenches measuring approximately 2–3m wide and cut in an area measuring 20m x 20m. In the course of excavating this area, a number of distinct phases of activity became apparent, including a recent to modern pathway extending partially east-west and a recent drain extending north-south.

Almost certainly medieval in date were agricultural furrows extending north-south and associated trenches extending east-west. There was a medieval ditch extending east-west, a medieval pit and a linear feature extending north-south.

At present the spatial relationship indicates that the most recent phase of activity on the site was the pathway, which was identified as a remnant feature extending east-west across the site. A blocked-up door was located at the point where the pathway intersected the western boundary wall.

The agricultural furrows appear to be an earlier phase of development, and crossed both the pit feature and the ditch; both features were identified in the course of the initial testing. These two features were not continuous across the site; the ditch extended approximately 10m from the eastern edge of A3 to the western edge of A4, where it terminated at a longitudinal spread of charcoal extending north-south. This same feature provided the westernmost limit of the pit. This pit terminated approximately 6m from the eastern boundary wall, where it was identified by the original testing programme. Medieval pottery was recovered from the base of these features.

A hearth was also identified beneath the baulk between A2 and A5. Very little charcoal or ash was associated with it.

A drain was identified extending north-south along the eastern baulk of the cutting; two sections were excavated to reveal its extent. Unlike the pit and ditch, this drain was cut from the ploughsoil level and did not appear to be an archaeological feature.

There were also a number of small east-west trenches which appeared to be associated with the north-south furrows. These features were cut into the natural and were quite shallow, measuring 0.1–0.2m in depth.

A trench was cut in Area B to determine whether the proposed development would adversely impinge upon any surviving archaeological remains. In the course of excavation a shell midden was identified. This was associated with a linear trench, from the base of which fragments of modern brick were recovered.

Area C was opened to determine whether or not the furrows identified in Area A extended to the south. This trench was cut to the south of one of the 1996 test-trenches. A French drain was also identified at the base of this trench, which extends east-west.

In conclusion, the site may be considered as being archaeologically resolved. Those features identified in Areas B and C and the north-south drain in Area A have been dated to the recent to modern period, while the other features, i.e. the furrows and ditches in Area A, appear to be medieval in date.

32 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2