County: Dublin Site name: ROSEPARK, Balrothery
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 99E0155
Author: Judith Carroll, Judith Carroll & Co. Ltd.
Site type: Enclosure, Kiln - corn-drying and Souterrain
Period/Dating: Early Medieval (AD 400-AD 1099)
ITM: E 720143m, N 761086m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.585869, -6.185415
The site was identified through aerial photographs and appeared to comprise a central circular enclosure with two outer ditches and a linear feature leading from the outermost ditch. Christine Baker carried out an assessment and initial soil-stripping on the site in 1999, when further features were revealed (Excavations 1999, 51–2).
Full excavation of the site was commenced by the writer in July 2000. The ditches, some souterrains and corn-drying kilns were found. The ditches revealed material, including E ware, bronze pins and iron knives, suggesting an early medieval date, while other finds from the site included a bone comb, a spindle-whorl and glass beads. Samples were taken from stratified contexts in the ditches and kilns for 14C analysis, along with environmental analysis. The linear feature has proved to be an entranceway, leading from a defensive enclosure. The excavation is still underway, and a comprehensive summary will follow in Excavations 2001.
13 Anglesea Street, Dublin 2
