County: Dublin Site name: CORCAGH DEMESNE, Clondalkin
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 01E0911
Author: Judith Carroll, Judith Carroll & Co. Ltd.
Site type: Burial and Kiln - corn-drying
Period/Dating: Early Medieval (AD 400-AD 1099)
ITM: E 705616m, N 730291m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.312352, -6.415059
Excavation took place prior to development of the south-east flood lake for the Camac River Improvement Scheme. In this area human remains and several cut features containing charcoal, slag and animal bone were found during monitoring (see Excavations 2001, No. 339). Excavation took place between 17 September and 17 November 2001.
The site is subdivided into five areas (A–E). Area A was at the south-west end and measured approximately 29m by 18m. This area was excavated between 17 September and 12 October 2001. Some linear features, with animal bone, charcoal and iron slag, were found. Finds consisted of a blue glass bead and two fragments of lignite bracelet. These finds point to the likelihood of an early medieval date. The immediate excavation of Area A allowed the western half of the site to be dug as a lake for the scheme by South Dublin County Council’s contractors, who were on site.
Features within Areas B–D were exposed through area testing by a team of archaeologists. Twenty human skeletons were present in Area D, as was a ditch, probably enclosing them. The entire burial site was not fully excavated. The County Council agreed to cease development in the area and Dúchas considered that unexposed burials could be covered with geo-textile and topsoil.
Areas B and C consisted of corn-drying kilns, probable ditch and possible structural features, exposed against the natural subsoil. Many of the cut features contained iron slag, animal bone and charcoal. These areas also were not fully excavated but were covered with geo-textile and topsoil when South Dublin County Council agreed to cease development in the area, as Dúchas advised. Many of the features were corn-drying kilns, and samples which produced carbonised remains were submitted for botanical analysis and radiocarbon dating. Iron knives, bronze pins and glass beads were found between Areas B, C and D, supporting the evidence of Area A and indicating an early medieval date for the site.
13 Anglesea Street, Dublin 2
