2001:444 - AIRPORT/BALBRIGGAN BYPASS, Site 2, Lissenhall Little, Dublin

This site was found during the monitoring of topsoil-stripping for the Airport/Balbriggan bypass. It measured 34m north–south by 20m on the southern side and 10m on the northern. Post-excavation work has not been completed for the site so full interpretation is not possible. Three areas of activity were identified: one in the northern area, the second in the west and an area in the south. All features were cut into the natural subsoil.

In the eastern part of the northern area were two plough-furrows and several possible post-holes. No pattern could be discerned. Some 6m to the west of this group were two circular features, C10 and C45. C10 was a circular pit, 0.5m by 0.6m and 0.12m deep. Its fill was charcoal-rich with some burnt stone. C45 was a tear-shaped pit, 0.36m by 0.39m at maximum and 0.1m deep. It had two fills, the primary fill and a burnt, charcoal-rich deposit.

The second area of activity was concentrated around a hearth. It measured 1.93m by 2.19m by 0.34m deep and had three different fills. There was obvious scorching of the natural subsoil at the base of the feature. It seemed to have been used regularly. A line of stake-holes ran in a north-north-easterly direction 4m to the west of the hearth and curved to the south-east at its southern end. They may have supported a windbreak since the prevailing wind would have come from that direction.

The third area of activity was in the south-eastern corner of the site. The remains of eight shallow stake-holes were closely grouped to the north of an irregular pit or post-hole feature. Their function cannot be determined at present.

Soil samples were taken for environmental analysis. Finds included flint nodules (struck and unstruck), some flint flakes, medieval pottery sherds and a few sherds of prehistoric pottery. Further interpretation will be carried out on receipt of specialists’ reports.

Wood Road, Cratloekeel, Co. Clare