2000:0299 - PARKWEST, Gallanstown, Dublin

Human remains, probably of Early Christian date, were revealed on this site during groundworks in advance of a business park development in 1999. This was partially excavated by Cóilín Ó Drisceoil, revealing three east–west-orientated burials and disarticulated bone (Excavations 1999, 83). An archaeological assessment by the writer (Excavations 1999, 83, 99E0108), followed by a geophysical survey, was then undertaken to reveal the extent of the cemetery.

A second assessment was carried out on the larger area surrounding the cemetery. This involved the excavation of 24 test-trenches across an area of the business park known as Sector Two, an area of c. 320,000m2. Of the 24 test-trenches opened, two revealed features of archaeological significance—Trenches 18 and 22.

Trench 18 was located in the south-west of the area assessed. A stone-lined well was revealed in this trench. The well had an internal diameter of 0.95m and was excavated to a depth of 1.4m, but water was not reached at this depth. The well appears to have been backfilled in the 18th century, but its construction date remains uncertain. The ground immediately surrounding the well was made up, presumably to provide a level surface. Macro-fossil remains were recovered from the well backfill and the surrounding make-up layer. Remains of oats, wheat, barley and small amounts of rye were identified in these deposits. Given that the macro-fossil remains were recovered from backfill and make-up layers, it appears that these were derived from earlier deposits, which appear to have been redeposited within these later features (Penny Johnston, pers. comm.). The well is to be preserved in situ.

Archaeological remains were also recovered from Trench 22, which was located directly south-east of the cemetery. Human remains in very poor condition were revealed in the trench. They appear to be the partial remains of a young child, with some animal bone found with the burial. This probably represents an outlier to the Early Christian cemetery, deposited while the cemetery was still in use or shortly after. Two relatively shallow pits were also revealed in Trench 22. Feature 53 measured 2.5m x 1.7m and was 0.32m deep; it contained very compact, macro-fossil-rich clay laid down in thin lenses. Feature 58 measured 1.3m x 2.05m and was 0.25m deep; similar clay fill with humic material through it was revealed. A significant volume of macro-fossil remains was recovered from these pits, including oats, barley, wheat and small amounts of rye, as well as high quantities of legumes. Feature 53 was also rich in chaff fragments and weed seeds (Penny Johnston, pers. comm.) The macro-fossil remains are similar to those that would be cleared out of a corn-drying kiln. However, in this instance the kiln rubbish would have had to be deliberately deposited within these pits rather than just cleaned out and scattered over the surrounding area, as is more likely. It is possible that this is ritual activity associated with the nearby cemetery (Penny Johnston, pers. comm.) Similar evidence for ritual activity has been located at other Early Christian sites in Dublin (Margaret Gowen, pers. comm.)

2 Killiney View, Albert Road Lower, Glenageary, Co. Dublin