2003:2142 - OLDCOURT: Ballycullen (Site 4), Dublin

The excavation of Ballycullen Site 4 was carried out in September 2003. The site was identified in July 2003 during Phase 7 of monitoring of topsoil-stripping, which was carried out in advance of a residential development (No. 649, Excavations 2003, 02E0190 ext.). Site 4 consisted of three areas of archaeological potential in the north-eastern corner of the field, 38m to the west of the Old Ballycullen Road. An initial interpretation identified the features to be of possible prehistoric and/or early medieval date.

Area K: possible cremation pit and post-hole
Area K contained two cut features, a small pit (C401) and a possible post-hole, situated c. 1m apart on a gentle slope in the north-western, lowest, part of the field. C401 was oval in plan with a slightly concave base, and the fill contained frequent charcoal flecks and burnt-bone fragments. Three sherds of prehistoric pottery were found in the fill, all body sherds of a thick fabric with coarse temper and burnished sides and possibly of a Bronze Age date. The findings suggest that the feature is the truncated base of a possible cremation pit. To the east of this was a posthole which consisted of a small sub-triangular cut with two fills, of which the main fill had many charcoal flecks. The shape of the fills in plan and section indicated that one was deposited in the west side of the cut, banking up against the main fill, resembling packing material supporting a post. The post-hole has tentatively been interpreted to have held a marker for the possible cremation burial of C401.

Area L: pit and possible kiln
Area L encompassed an area measuring 10m east–west by 4m, situated on gently sloping ground in the north-east of the field. The features consisted of two large pits, oval and linear/sub-oval in plan, situated 4.7m apart. They were preliminarily identified as a kiln and associated storage pit of a possibly early medieval date.

The east pit, C414, was situated in the east of Area L at 110.43m OD and measured 2.3m by 0.9m, and 0.2m in depth. The cut had a linear/sub-rectangular shape, with rounded edges and a flat base, and an east–west orientation. A stake-hole was set into the east part of the base. The pit had three fills, of which the upper, main, fill was rich in charcoal and had many fire-cracked granite stones and some burnt bone. The edges and base of the cut were partially lined with a compact redeposited natural, with occasional charcoal and fragments of burnt stone. One piece of struck chert and one piece of flint were found in the main fill. The fills indicate that the feature was used for the deposition/storage of fire-cracked stones and was possibly associated with C418 (below), a possible kiln with evidence of burning.

To the east of C414 was pit C418, which measured 2.49m by 1.26m and 0.32m in depth. The cut was sub-oval in plan and had sharply sloping sides. The base was flat in two levels, deeper to the north, where the cut was bowl-shaped and where scorching was evident around the edges. The cut contained eight fills, mainly represented by horizontal layers situated in the northern, bowl-shaped part of the cut; in the south part of the feature the fill was uniform, with less inclusions. The fills consisted of layers of charcoal-rich soil and scorched clay. The content and location of fills, together with the evidence of scorching, suggest the feature may be a kiln. The feature bears a resemblance in size, shape and fills with the pit C403 in Area P to the south-east of this area. There were no finds.

Area P: possible kiln
Area P consisted of a pit situated on a gentle slope in the north-east corner of the field, c. 22m from Areas K and L. The cut (C403) measured 2.44m north–south by 0.6m (maximum) and 0.35m (maximum) in depth and was situated at 112.27m OD. The pit had a sub-rectangular shape in plan and a slight figure-of-eight shape at the base, with a distinct bowl shape in its northern end. The southern and larger part of the cut was sub-rectangular and shallower and had a flat, more regular, shape. The two parts of the base were divided by a thin lip of natural subsoil. The cut contained eight fills, which included various amounts of charcoal, burnt bone and quartz; several of the layers consisted of scorched, reddened soil. A number of large rounded stones were set in the fills in the central and narrowest part of the cut, protruding through the top fill and resting on a charcoal-rich fill which extended over the larger part of the cut. The pit in Area P was similar in content, size and shape to C418 in Area L and can be interpreted as being a kiln of possible early historic date.

32 FitzWilliam Place, Dublin 2