2001:443 - LAUGHAUNSTOWN, Dublin

Site 28 Laughanstown is on the route of the South-Eastern Motorway and is in an area that was utilised as an 18th-century army camp. A licensed metal detection survey was carried out and a large number of finds were retrieved, 69% of which were metal, with 22% ceramics and 9% lithics. Within a defined area, 316 pieces of metal were located, together with twelve metallic artefacts, which included some lead shot, a silver ring, possibly 18th-century in date, and a rowel spur. A small number of coins/tokens and military buttons were also recovered. The majority of the ferrous finds were miscellaneous nails, horseshoes and stakes.

Following the metal detection survey an area 20m by 40m was excavated and a number of archaeological features were revealed. The area of excavation incorporated a series of test-trenches located throughout the site and excavated by Patricia Lynch (Excavations 2000, No. 318). During excavation three furrows, two drains (one of which is a French drain) and several pits were revealed together with some charcoal-flecked soil.

There would appear to be three phases of use of the site. The first seems to date from the prehistoric period. A pit, with a struck flint, was located at the extreme western edge of the site. The second phase may date from the medieval or late medieval period, with the use of the land for cultivation, as is evidenced by the remains of three furrows. The line of the furrows is very much at odds with the present field layout and this would suggest that they may have been part of medieval strip cultivation. The site is near SMR 26:93, Lehaunstown House, which incorporates a medieval tower-house. A small amount of medieval pottery was recovered from the site. The two drains would appear to be post-medieval in date and represent the third stage of usage of the site. A very narrow straight drain, which ran north–south for 9m in the south-western portion of the site, may be related to the occupation of the area by the 18th-century army camp. A large nodule of bloom and portions of a knife were recovered from this feature. A cobbled area with a drain may also be related to the post-medieval period of the site. The cobbles and drain may have formed the floor of a flimsy wooden structure, possibly an animal shelter.

Further work may reveal a considerable amount of activity associated with the camp of the 18th century. In 1795 a large army camp of upwards of 5000 men was established at Laughanstown, following a perceived threat to King George III. This camp covered an area of some 120 acres. Although the main part of the camp was located close to Tully Church, 600m to the north-east, it is very likely that the area under excavation and metal detection was utilised for military manoeuvres. It is also reputed that King James’s army encamped in the area for five days after their defeat at the Boyne in 1690.

25 Rowan Hall, Millbrook Court, Milltown, Dublin 6