2001:333 - BALROTHERY: Old Coach Road, Dublin

An assessment of this site, which is located on the Old Coach Road in Balrothery, Co. Dublin, recommended that a test excavation be carried out prior to development. A series of test-trenches were opened at the site in May–June 2001 (see Excavations 2001, No. 332). Two areas of archaeological potential were identified, one in the south-west quadrant of the site (Area A) and the other in the south-east quadrant (Area D). As the development would impact negatively on this material, it was recommended that full archaeological excavation of these areas be undertaken prior to the commencement of development works.

The excavation took place in July and August 2001. It was possible to correlate the stratigraphy of both Area A and Area D, as a live drainage feature was present in both areas. Six phases of archaeological activity have been provisionally identified across the site. It is possible that specialist analysis of the finds and environmental material may cause these phases to be further subdivided. Phases I–IV represent the medieval activity at the site and Phases V–VI the post-medieval activity.

Area A
Area A measured 40m by 20m (oriented east–west) and was located towards the western end of the development. For the most part the southern boundary of Area A accords with the southern boundary of the development site. The area centred on the location of Test-trench A3, which had been opened during the preceding test excavation. Most of the medieval activity identified during the excavation of Area A was concentrated in the centre and east of the area, with the post-medieval activity spread more generally across the whole of the area.

Phase I
The earliest activity in Area A was characterised by a series of post-holes, hearths and shallow linear cuts, as well as a pair of well-built lintelled stone drains. Many of these features had been heavily truncated by later activity.

At the western end of the site was a linear trench with rounded terminals, measuring 6.4m by 1.1m, with a maximum depth of 0.25m. The fills of the trench were characterised by high levels of charcoal and burnt clay. The south-west end of the trench was partially truncated by a linear cut relating to Phase V activity (C175). The function of this trench is presently unclear.

Near the centre of the site were a pair of hearths and a series of post-holes. Though the two hearths were less than 0.5m apart there were no indications that either had disturbed the other. While it is hard to infer a structure from the series of post-holes, their proximity to the two hearths suggests that they relate to each other, and it is possible that the post-holes represent the remains of a windbreak, or related structure, which may have protected the hearths.

Immediately south-west of the two hearths was a substantial pit (C154), which was suboval to lentoid in shape and measured 3.8m by 1.7m with a maximum depth of 0.45m. A large stone (c. 1.2m by 0.6m by 0.15m) was noted from the fill which had a series of criss-crossing parallel striations, of varying depth, across its convex upper surface. These would appear to be wear-marks of some kind, possibly relating to the sharpening of metal tools or some other similar activity.

Approximately 2m to the east of these features were a pair of lintelled stone drains. The two drains were of very similar construction. The sides consisted of a series of flat stones (c. 0.2m long) set on edge with a lintelled roof. Both drains appear to have converged at their northern ends; however, their precise relationship could not be ascertained as they were truncated at that point by the cut for a live land drain. They were also both heavily truncated and disturbed by later phases of activity at the site. As only a very short section of each drain survives, their original extent cannot be estimated. Most of the undisturbed surviving section of one was sealed by a layer of redeposited natural clay into which several features relating to Phase II activity were cut. The southern half of the surviving portion of the other was cut through the fill of a shallow pit.

To the south-east of these features was a short section of narrow curvilinear trench. It was truncated at either end by post-medieval activity, and its original depth cannot be estimated as it was partially truncated along the entirety of its surviving length by subsequent medieval activity. The purpose of this trench is unclear; it may have been a drainage feature or it may represent the remains of a simple structure.

Phase II
The second phase of activity in Area A was characterised by further linear cuts and intercut dumps of charcoal-rich material.

Towards the centre of Area A was a large subrectangular cut (C182), which had truncated the south end of the pit C154. Though C182 measured 3.8m by 3.6m, its maximum depth was only 0.2m. It was filled with a series of charcoal-rich deposits. The purpose of C182 would appear to have been to accommodate dumps of waste material from a kiln or possibly a hearth. The domed profile of the secondary fill strongly supports this.

C182 also truncated the western end of an east–west-oriented linear cut, C15. The eastern end of this cut truncated a section of C164 (a feature from Phase I) on the south. C15 survived for a length of 8m and was 1.1m in width, with a maximum depth of 0.12m. It had a rounded terminal at its western end and its eastern end had been completely truncated by later activity. Roughly halfway along its surviving length, C164 was cut by a shallow circular pit. The fills of this pit were very charcoal-rich, with frequent charcoal lenses, and again appear to be consistent with debris from a hearth or kiln.

Phase III
The third phase of activity in Area A was characterised by substantial pits filled with layers of material rich in charcoal and burnt organic matter, and, significantly, a flagstone hearth situated towards the eastern side of the site. Phase III activity was very heavily concentrated towards the eastern end of the site.

Towards the centre of the site was a shallow cut which had truncated a series of Phase II features. As well as a number of sherds of medieval pottery, the fill of the cut also produced a small piece of fabric measuring c. 0.6m by 0.5m.

To the east of the cut were a pair of substantial pits, C98 and C106. C106 was the westernmost of the two and was an elongated subrectangular cut, measuring 4m by 2.1m, with a maximum depth of 0.36m. It was filled by a series of overlying shallow deposits, all of which were characterised by high levels of charcoal and burnt organic material. In particular carbonised grain was noted frequently throughout. C106 had truncated a series of features relating to Phases I and II; it was itself bisected along a north–south axis by the Phase IV medieval wall, C108.

Directly east of C106 was an even larger pit, C98. C98 was a large irregular to subcircular pit, measuring 4.1m by 3m and 0.4m in depth. The fill was a friable blue-black silty sand with copious charcoal inclusions, and high levels of burnt organic matter and carbonised grain. A series of small pits relating to Phase IV were cut into the fill, near the centre of the pit.

At the eastern end of the site was a flagstone hearth, C55, measuring 1.35m by 1m. It consisted of an oval area of randomly arranged, closely spaced flat stones, with evidence for in situ burning. There was evidence of marks on the surface of some stones, possibly the result of wear and tear; the marks were almost parallel, not criss-cross, suggesting a very uniform action. The hearth was set into and surrounded by C56, a reddish-brown to yellowish-brown sandy clay, probably the result of in situ burning. It contained occasional charcoal flecks and burnt organic material and extended for approximately 0.2–0.25m around C55 on all sides. Partially overlying and worked in amongst the stones of C55 was a dark brown to black silty clay which contained extremely high levels of charcoal and burnt organic material. Though there were a number of other hearths in Area A, C55 is the only one that can be clearly linked to kiln activity at this point.

Phase IV
The fourth phase of activity in Area A was characterised by the remains of the foundations of a masonry wall and a series of shallow pits, some with charcoal-rich fills, some just redeposited natural fills. As with Phase III, Phase IV activity was focused on the eastern end of the site.

The wall (C108) survived for a length of 2.5m and was 0.35m wide, with a maximum height of 0.4m. It was constructed of a variety of medium to large, angular to subangular stones. There were indications of some light mortar-type material between some of the stones. C108 would appear to be the footing for a mortared stone wall; however, as there were no indications of a return or original termini, the nature of the structure which it formed cannot be ascertained. The construction cut for this wall bisected the Phase III pit, C106, and its fills.

Phase V
Phase V represents the earliest post-medieval activity at the site and was characterised primarily by two overlying metalled surfaces on the east of the site and a substantial pit in the south-east of the site. All of these features truncated earlier medieval activity.

Phase VI
The final phase of activity at the site is characterised by the presence of modern drainage features (notably a live drainage feature), and layers of redeposited material left over from their construction. These layers of redeposited material sealed most of the medieval and early post-medieval activity at the site. The live drainage feature truncated most of the earlier features and was also traced in Area D (see below).

Area D
Area D was in the south-eastern quadrant of the proposed development. It measured 30m by 20m (orientated east–west) and was centred on the location of Trial-trench D6, investigated during the preceding test excavation. Six phases of archaeological activity were identified across Area D during the excavation.

Phase I
The earliest phase of activity in Area D was represented by a single pit in the centre of the site. It was roughly circular in plan (measuring 0.85m by 0.84m) and reached a depth of 0.24m. There were no finds present, only animal bone, so a medieval date has been presumed, based on the dating of subsequent activity; however, it is impossible to confirm the dating at this time. The pit was sealed by a layer of cobbles.

Phase II
Phase II was characterised by a cobbled surface (C4) and a grey stony layer overlying and sealing it (C3). C4 reached a depth of 0.23m, and measured approximately 15m by 11m across Area D. One sherd of medieval pottery was recovered from within it. C3 extended over the length and width of C4 and reached a maximum depth of 0.3m. It produced five pieces of medieval pottery and a moderate amount of animal bone and teeth, suggesting that it is possibly an occupation layer. The presence of medieval pottery in both C3 and C4 suggests a medieval date for this phase of activity. Both C3 and C4 were truncated by later phases of activity on the site.

Phase III
Phase III was characterised by a large ditch (C40) and its primary fill. Beginning in the north-west corner of Area D, aligned initially with a live drain (C81), it ran in a north to south direction for approximately 14m before turning sharply and contining in a west to east direction for a further 10.2m. Initially very wide (c. 2.4m) with a depth of 0.7m, it became much narrower and shallower as it extended downslope. Its orientation relative to the live land drain suggests that it could possibly be the earliest phase of drainage activity from the holy well (SMR 5:57(07)) located 10–20m to the south in the adjacent Rosepark site. It cut C3 and C4 on the north, south and west. The fill produced a number of sherds of medieval pottery.

Phase IV
Phase IV, the final phase of medieval activity, was characterised by the upper fill of C40 and a linear cut (C49) near the southern boundary of Area D. C49 was a shallow ditch, observed running parallel to C40 in a north-west to south-east direction for approximately 7m. It was truncated at its south-eastern extent by a modern field boundary. Its fill produced a number of sherds of medieval pottery.

Phase V
Phase V, the first phase of post-medieval activity, was characterised in Area D by a single linear ditch, which ran parallel to C40 along its north–south-oriented section. Though no finds were obtained, the feature does appear to be of post-medieval date.

Phase VI
The final phase of activity in Area D was characterised by a live land drain, a feature that was also evident in Area A, and also by a burnt spread adjacent to C81 and a modern field boundary. It was not possible to fully investigate the stone structure of the drain, as it was still in use, but where it was observable it appeared to consist of drystone walls with a rough lintelled roof, sealed with a dump of smaller stones. The orientation of the land drain at this point indicates that, though the structure may be relatively modern, the watercourse may originate at the holy well in the adjacent Rosepark site.

Discussion
The excavation has uncovered a complex series of medieval and post-medieval phases of activity at the site. This was particularly evident in Area A, where multiple phases of medieval activity intercut each other. As in many cases these relationships were very complex, the present schema should be viewed as a broad outline, which will hopefully be modified and refined as analysis of the material recovered progresses.

Overall, the medieval activity in Area A would appear to be consistent with that noted at other kiln sites (e.g. that excavated by Ciara McManus at Gorteen, Co. Limerick, Excavations 1999, No. 504, 97E0230, or by Finola O’Carroll at Haggardstown, Co. Louth, ibid., No. 544, 99E0683). However, the absence of any identifiable kiln structures is unusual. A number of kiln sites have been excavated close to watercourses (e.g. that excavated by Niall Brady at Abbeyland/Blackcastle Demesne, Co. Meath, Excavations 1998, No. 499, 98E0590). As it is probable that the watercourse contained within the live drain would have been unenclosed during the medieval period, its location in the field may have been a factor in the situation of the kiln.

The most likely locations for the actual kiln are either in the northern half of Area A, in the area heavily disturbed by post-medieval activity, or to the south beyond the limit of the excavation (and also the site boundary). Given the association of well-constructed flues and drains with kiln structures at well-preserved sites, it is possible that the two lintelled stone drains may have related directly to the kiln at this site. As the two merge just at the point of truncation by the live drain, it is possible that they may have entered the kiln structure at this point. However, any more concrete evidence for the location of the kiln in this part of the site would have been destroyed by the construction of the drain.

The stratigraphy of Area D was somewhat less complex than that in Area A. The purpose of the cobbled surface is not immediately clear. However, as the cut for the live land drain truncates it, and, in fact, the land drain enters the field at this point, it is possible that it may be a response to drainage problems posed by the watercourse prior to its being enclosed. The orientation of the land drain at this point indicates that the watercourse originates at the holy well in Rosepark, and it is not impossible that this may have some bearing on the construction of the surface.

28 Haroldville Avenue, Rialto, Dublin 8