2000:0313 - KINGSTOWN, Dublin

A spread of burnt material was observed during the process of topsoil-stripping in the townland of Kingstown on 27 January 2000. The work was being conducted in preparation for the construction of a section of the South-Eastern Motorway. Work took place between 27 March and 28 April 2000.

The site was located in flat terrain immediately to the west of a small stream. Prior to topsoil-stripping the presence of rushes indicated the waterlogged nature of the terrain.

The initial area of excavation was focused on the previously noted spread of burnt material. A roughly rectangular area (17m north–south x 7m) was uncovered. As a second spread of burnt material soon manifested itself, it became desirable to extend the area of excavation towards the western banks of the stream. The opportunity to expand presented itself when an intervening trackway (used by the construction company) became redundant. The area of excavation thus expanded to an overall irregular area of 17m (north–south) x 17m. Interestingly, most of the significant discoveries were to be made in the latterly gained area.

As the excavation progressed it became clear that there was no need to extend cuttings to the north, west or south, as there were no indications of prehistoric activity in the excavated areas along those flanks. Indeed, the topsoil-stripping had not exposed any diagnostic elements in those directions.

Post-medieval phase
Excavation revealed a series of ‘trenches’ criss-crossing the site. These linear features clearly cut through and thus post-dated the burnt material spreads. Subsequently it proved possible to categorise the trenches into two types, lazy-beds and plough furrows.

Lazy-beds
Five linear trenches were uncovered running on a basically east-south-east/west-north-west axis. These features were evenly spaced (the average gap being 2.7–2.8m). Their average widths fell in the 0.5–0.7m range. Depths varied, and there were gaps in the courses of two trenches. These gaps and the fact that two of the trenches featured pronounced pock-marking in their floors suggested that they had been manually dug. A sherd of blackware pottery was uncovered on the floor level of one of the trenches. All five trenches extended beyond the excavated area, and there was little doubt that they extended the full width of the field. This had not been established during topsoil-stripping, as insufficient depth had been attained and the boulder clay had only appeared sporadically. The presence of six stake-holes in the floor of one of the trenches suggested a tillage-orientated interpretation for them. It would appear likely, therefore, that these features constituted a form of lazy-bed, probably of 18th–19th-century date. Interestingly, the last recorded crop grown in the field (in the 1960s) was potato (pers. comm. Edward Brooks, long-time local resident).

Plough furrows
Six linear trenches were uncovered running on a basically north-north-east/south-south-west axis. These features were irregularly spaced. Their average widths fell in the 0.25–0.5m range. Depths varied but remained generally consistent in the individual trenches. One of the trenches (F8) noticeably terminated short of one of the lazy-bed trenches. A clear explanation for this termination is not immediately apparent. It might be noted, however, that the terminal of the trench in question featured two, if not three, stake-holes. It is not impossible, therefore, that this feature was independent of the other five.

A small fragment of china (Willow Pattern?) and a small piece of green glass were recovered from two of the trenches. Four of the trenches extended beyond the excavated area, and there was little doubt that they extended the full length of the field. This had not been established during topsoil-stripping, as insufficient depth had been obtained and the boulder clay had only appeared sporadically. Given the overall pattern and dimension of the features, and the fact that one of the trenches appeared to feature a pronounced rut running along its eastern flank, it might be suggested that these features (with the possible exception of F8) constituted ploughing furrows of post-medieval date.

Prehistoric phase
Preliminary excavation revealed the presence of three independent spreads of burnt black material and an area of what appeared to be intrusive natural boulder clay. The only find of potential prehistoric significance was a worn flint flake with possible indications of retouching. This was found on the surface level of a natural gravel layer.

Burnt material
This consisted of a mix of fragments of heat-shattered stones, charcoal and charcoal-enriched soil. The material was concentrated in three areas: Spread A was located in the south-west sector of the excavated area and occupied an area c. 2.7m x 3m. Although the burnt material only survived to a maximum depth of 0.08–0.1m, it was undisturbed and free of intrusive later elements. The spread was underlain by the natural boulder clay, which was heavily discoloured. The stone fragments were in an extremely friable condition, and the former upper levels of the spread would have been highly susceptible to total destruction by ploughing activity.

Spread B was located in the central sector of the excavated area and occupied an area c. 9m x 8.4m. This spread was very disturbed (by ploughing activity?) and was largely uncompromised only towards its western limits, where it survived to a depth of 0.1–0.15m.

Spread C was located in the eastern sector of the excavated area and occupied an area c. 4.4m x 3.8m. This spread was relatively undisturbed but nonetheless was traversed by three of the ploughing furrows. Again, it only survived to an average depth of 0.06–0.1m, except for the area immediately adjacent to the trough, where it increased to c. 0.18m.

What can be stated with some certainty is that the burnt material had never been arranged in the classic horseshoe- or kidney-shaped formation about the trough. Allowing for the possibility that the three spreads were originally conjoined, the resulting mound would have been roughly D-shaped and would have flanked only the northern and western edges of the trough. There was a marked absence of any elements of burnt material to the south of the trough, and the old course of the river would have lain immediately to the east. The possibility that the burnt material was originally deposited in three separate mounds cannot, however, be totally excluded.

Redeposited boulder clay
An area occupied by what appeared to be an intrusive deposit of boulder clay was identified towards the south-eastern corner of the excavated area. It lay to the immediate south of Spread C and to the immediate east of Spread B of the burnt material. It covered an area c. 3m x 1.4m. Further excavation revealed that this layer of light grey boulder clay lay above the south-eastern sector of the pit-trough and its adjoining downsloping bank. There is no questioning the deliberate deposition of this stratum of natural boulder clay, but the governing motivation is hard to define. It is, nonetheless, convincing evidence that not only was the trough ultimately deemed redundant but also there was a motivated effort to re-adapt the immediate area to some further (unknown) use.

The trough
A subrectangular pit (with slightly concave sides on its northern, western and southern flanks) was uncovered to the immediate south of Spread C and to the immediate east of Spread B of the burnt material. It measured 2.3m in maximum length and 1.6–1.8m in maximum width. The pit proper would originally have facilitated a water level of 0.2m, but allowing for the capacity engendered by the ancillary area of the surrounding sloping banks this could have increased to c. 0.3m. The floor of the pit proper sloped down gently from west to east.

There were no vestigial indications of there ever having been any timbers employed in the composition of the trough. It might be noted, however, that a deposit of hard-packed, boulder clay-like material flanked the northern side of the pit. It is not impossible that it represents back-packing to support an inner timber frame. The even spread of stones on the floor of the pit would, however, tend to suggest that no inner timber structure had ever been employed. Thus, it might be suggested that the pit represented a trough of simple earth-cut form. A period of intense rainfall during the course of the excavation proved that the pit was more than capable of retaining water!

A spread of 61 stones was uncovered on the floor of the trough. These were mostly concentrated in its western sector. The stones, mostly granite, were embedded in a layer of light grey, silty fill and thus had all the appearances of representing the heating elements employed in the final cooking operations at the site.

Two post-holes were uncovered in the floor of the trough. These were set diagonally towards its south-eastern and north-western corners. It is more than likely that the two posts in question supported a spit that was employed in the cooking process. It is not impossible that joints of meat wrapped in straw were suspended from the spit while simultaneously being immersed in the boiling water. Such a device would have facilitated an easy recovery of the cooked meat.

Overflow conduit
A small ‘alcove’ had been excavated into the boulder clay above the north-eastern corner of the pit/trough. Its floor level lay at a height of 0.35m above trough floor level. The ‘alcove’ (0.5m long, 0.23m wide) actually constituted the mouth of a channel or conduit that extended to the line of the older river course. The overall length of the feature was 1.2m. Its width (upper level) varied from 0.3m to 0.35m. At floor level the average width was 0.15m. Maximum depth attained was 0.09–0.1m. Given its siting, and the obvious relationship with both the trough and the old river course, there can be little doubt that the channel functioned as an overflow conduit for the trough.

Old riverbed
Excavation revealed not only the course but also the old bed of the river. It could thus be observed that a constant supply of water (and of water-cleansed stones) lay within 1m of the trough. As the bed of the river now lies almost 4m to the east of the excavated area, its progress over the millennia can be monitored. The depth of the modern riverbed has not sunk considerably.

Ancillary activity
A total of seventeen post-holes came to light to the west of the trough (in addition to a post-hole and a depression that lay to its north-west). Eleven of the post-holes were clustered to the immediate west of the trough and undoubtedly represent the vestigial remains of a wooden structure of imperceptible form. Sheltering screens or meat-storage huts are two active possibilities.

The fact that all of the post-holes were located beneath the burnt material spread makes their chronological relationship with the trough difficult to project. Two of the post-holes lay 7–8m away from the trough and were covered by Spread A of the burnt material. As this area was not disturbed by any subsequent activity (to boulder clay level), it may be suggested that these post-holes were associated with pre-mound activity at the site.

Fireplaces
In two areas there were indications of the former presence of fireplaces or burning activity.

A shallow depression lay towards the west-central sector of the excavated area. It was covered by an intact pocket of the burnt material up to 0.15m in depth. The core area of the depression was 0.9m x 1.4m. The floor of the feature was extremely hard and contained an ingrained charcoal fleck. Despite the absence of ash deposits it is not impossible that this area hosted at least some of the attendant fires. Indeed, owing to the nature and purpose of the fires in question it might be expected that the residual debris would be more a combination of stone and charcoal fragments than pure ash deposits.

To the west of the trough two closely set areas of red burnt clay were uncovered beneath the burnt material spread (Spread B). Their overall dimensions were 1.26m x 0.9m and 0.6m x 0.23m. Again, there were no ash deposits in evidence, but both the unmistakable signs of burning and the close proximity (1m) of the burnt area to the trough must advance the area as the location of additional fires.

Brehon House, Kilkenny Road, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny