2003:2113 - LAUGHANSTOWN, Dublin

Monitoring of groundworks associated with the development of the Science and Technology Park (II) and district lands in Cherrywood and Laughanstown was undertaken between 21 July and 25 August 2003 (No. 468, 03E0839, Excavations 2003). Topsoil was stripped from an area measuring c. 26.7ha. Six areas of archaeological potential were uncovered and separate licences were obtained for each (Nos 623, 03E1145; 470, 03E1182; 634, 03E1365; 625, 03E1366; 626 and 627, 03E1471). The following refers to the excavation of Site 2.

Site 2 covered an area of 216m2 on a south-east facing slope at 55.6m OD. The stratigraphy comprised 0.4m of topsoil and ploughsoil overlying glacial till. There was no stratigraphic relationship between the archaeological features on this site and the results of radiocarbon dating and osteoarchaeological analysis are awaited.

Excavation of a sub-circular pit in the north-west of the site revealed a cremation deposit contained within an upright pot. This was removed by means of a block lift and the contents of the pot were excavated in the lab. A copper alloy pin was found with the cremated remains. A small spread of charcoal (0.3m in diameter and c. 10mm deep) and a sub-circular patch of in situ burning were uncovered to the west and north of the cremation pit and are probably associated with it.

A subrectangular pit was located c. 0.78m to the east of the cremation pit. It measured 1.06m long, 0.38–0.58m wide and 0.33–0.38m deep. Two phases of fill were evident within the pit. The lowest was yellow silty clay with frequent charcoal. Overlying this was a dark-reddish patch of burnt clay with frequent charcoal and occasional pebbles. A thin layer (0.01–0.06m) of redeposited natural sealed these fills, suggesting that the overlying material represents a second phase of activity. The next fill was a thin layer of orange sandy clay with occasional flecks of charcoal. Overlying this was a thin lens of silty clay with frequent charcoal. The uppermost fill was a layer of mid-yellow silty clay with frequent flecks of charcoal and occasional pebbles. Three fragments of worked flint were recovered from this fill.

About 0.15m to the south-east of the cremation pit was a roughly figure-of-eight-shaped feature comprised of two adjoining pits. It measured 1.4m north-east/south-west by 0.4–0.7m and up to 0.42m deep. The fill of the northern pit was light-brown silty clay with charcoal and occasional pebbles. The fill of the southern pit was blackish-brown sandy clay with patches of burnt earth and occasional charcoal. Small areas of oxidised clay were noted around the perimeter of this feature, which was probably a kiln.

A subrectangular pit was located c. 15.4m to the south of the aforementioned features. It was 1.05m by 0.6m and 0.48m deep. The lowest fill or lining was reddish burnt clay with charcoal and small stones. This was 0.8m long and 0.13m deep. The main fill was dark-brown sandy clay with frequent charcoal and occasional stones (0.1m by 0.3m). A number of larger granite stones (0.3m by 0.5m by 0.6m) were contained in the upper fill. A charred cereal grain was identified in the fill of this kiln, indicating that it was used for cereal drying on at least one occasion.

There were two conjoining patches of in situ burning (0.6m and 0.2m in diameter) c. 5m to the west of Kiln 2. These may be the remains of hearths associated with it. A third hearth (0.56m by 0.4m) was excavated c. 4.1m to the south-west of Kiln 2.

There was a stratigraphic relationship between the individual features on this site. Finds comprised a number of pieces of struck flint. The only dating evidence currently available comes from the cremation burial, preliminary analysis of which by Anna Brindley suggests that it is a vase urn and probably dates from the late third to early second millennium BC. It is anticipated that the results of radiocarbon analysis will give a clearer indication of the period/s of activity represented on-site.

2 Kiliney View, Albert Road Lower, Co. Dublin