County: Dublin Site name: GRANGE: Baldoyle (Site 4:3)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 04E0589
Author: Nikolah Gilligan and Stuart D. Elder, The Archaeology Company
Site type: Industrial site
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 724541m, N 740358m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.398671, -6.127252
Site 4:3 was a multi-feature site situated close to the Dublin–Belfast railway line, in the north-eastern part of the new town development, and was discovered during the testing phase (No. 446, Excavations 2004, 03E1535).
The site comprised a complex of two subcircular features, two ovoid features, seven post-holes and a figure-of-eight-shaped cut, possibly two intercutting pits, within an area measuring c. 15m by 10m. The pits measured between 2.5m by 1.2m by 0.35m deep and 0.4m by 0.24m by 0.14m deep, and all contained charcoal-rich silty clay fills. Oxidisation of the subsoil around the edges of the pits suggests burning in situ. One pit had lumps of charcoal and large pieces of charred wood within the lower fill.
A cluster of seven post-holes was located towards the centre of the site, some of which formed a loose linear pattern and contained similar fills of mid-brown soft silt with charcoal flecks. They may have formed a drying frame of some sort or a windbreaker.
It is clear that the site has formed some sort of industrial purpose, though the exact function remains unknown. Post-excavation analysis is ongoing.
Birr Technology Centre, Mill Island, Birr, Co. Offaly
