County: Dublin Site name: OLDTOWN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: DU011-144001- and DU011-144002 Licence number: 03E1080
Author: Christine Baker, Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd.
Site type: Ecclesiastical enclosure and Burial
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 716582m, N 748167m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.470625, -6.243981
This was an assessment of impact and a bone retrieval exercise, undertaken following the uncovering of human remains during the construction of a temporary roadway. The site is located c. 1.5km north-west of Swords, north of the Rathbeale Road (R125). The site as revealed extended for c. 101.5m east–west by 15–20m. In line with the topography, the area of the roadway rose steeply from east to west and the depth of disturbance reflected this (1m maximum). Archaeological deposits were identified a minimum of 0.25m below ground level.
One of the aims of the excavation was to ascertain the density and distribution of skeletal material. To that end, a series of areas were cleaned back and any disturbed remains retrieved. Within an area measuring 5m by 5m, ten skeletons within grave-cuts were identified. Several artefacts, including a perforated stone bead and a bone pin, were recovered in association with them.
The nature and extent of associated archaeological features was primarily identified by the geophysical survey programme that was carried out concurrently beyond the area of the roadway.
Surveyed under licence 03R095 by John Nicholls of Margaret Gowen & Company, the area of archaeological activity extended for c. 300m north–south by 200m. It was comprised of, at the north-eastern limit, a large enclosure (A), 200m in diameter, with an identifiable entranceway to the north. An inner enclosure (B), estimated as having a diameter of c. 130m, appears to contain a smaller enclosure (D), 70m in diameter.
The roadway truncates these enclosures and the results of the assessment correlate with the geophysical survey results. The probable intersection of enclosure D and enclosure B was identified on the ground as ditch features, while another ditch identified in section may correspond to enclosure A. The limit of skeletal material was defined by the enclosing elements and it may be inferred that the central enclosure (D) constitutes the burial ground of the site. An enclosure network extending from the north-west of the main complex was also recorded, and comprised adjacent sub-rectangular anomalies (H–L) with possible pits located internally (Nicholls 2003, unpublished report). On foot of the results, a new access road was proposed.
2 Killiney View, Albert Road Lower, Glenageary, Co. Dublin
