2005:513 - NEWTOWN LITTLE, Dublin

Monitoring of topsoil-stripping at Newtown Little in advance of a residential development uncovered significant archaeological remains. Seven areas were identified as being of archaeological potential. These areas were excavated over six weeks in April and May 2005.
The excavations uncovered two small structures, one indicated by a series of post-holes forming the outline of an area up to 2.7m by 1.9m wide. The area delineated by the post-holes was roughly rectangular in shape. The other structure consisted of the faint trace of an arcing semicircular slot-trench with a stone hearth. It measured up to 3m in diameter. This may have been a shelter or hut site, which was probably only used for a short time. This is supported by the minimal amount of burning that had occurred around the stone hearth as well as the footprint of the structure, which suggests a very flimsy construction. Ceramics retrieved from both structures initially suggested a Beaker date. However, radiocarbon dates indicated that both structures belonged to the Early Bronze Age, with the rectangular structure being slightly earlier. Up to 600 sherds of Beaker pottery were recovered from deposits further to the west.
On a natural platform further upslope, a burial pit was found containing the base of a vase food vessel and a complete accessory vessel or pygmy cup. Although it was a burial context, no bone was found. It is unclear if there had ever been any bone in the pit.
Further east, another burial pit was excavated; this pit contained cremated bone and sherds of Late Bronze Age pottery. A number of other post-holes and pits were found to contain Late Bronze Age pottery, although no definite evidence for Late Bronze Age structures was found.
A number of medieval deposits were found on the site. They contained a large quantity of medieval pottery as well as a whetstone, a spindle whorl and a knife. Three pits containing medieval pottery and iron slag were uncovered nearby.