2006:664 - Killininny, Dublin

Excavation was carried out at Killininny townland, Oldcourt Mill, Oldcourt Road, Tallaght, between June and August 2006. Archaeological features had been identified during the monitoring of topsoil-stripping in advance of development. The site lies within the archaeological constraint zone surrounding DU022–025 (ecclesiastical remains). The monument consists of a ruined church, the site of a graveyard and two dwellings. The proposed development comprises the demolishing of a dormer house and the construction of 33 houses, apartments and car-parking facilities, as well as alterations to surrounding entrances and roads. Much of the site was covered by mature gardens, with a diesel tank at the north of the site which led to soil contamination. This had to be removed along the northern site boundary.
Fifty archaeological features were identified throughout the excavated area, most of which were medieval in date. Post-medieval features in the form of agricultural furrows and pits were also identified. The site represents the remnants of burgage plots. The most prominent features on this site were the north–south-oriented ditches outlining the extent of the burgage plots. These ditches are spaced at 12m, 14m and 20m respectively. They are larger than the burgage plots mentioned in Graham (2000, 124–39), and it is not possible to ascertain if they had a length–width ratio of 5:1 as the remainder of the burgage plots would appear to be located to the north of the site beyond the limit of excavation. All the ditches had multiple fills and cut several features on the site, suggesting that they postdated some of these features. The finds from the ditches suggest a broad medieval date.
There are also pits associated with the ditches that appear to have a domestic function. The results of the environmental samples taken from them should shed light on their function. Most of the pits are isolated and the stratigraphic relationship between the ditches and the pits is unknown, but one could infer that the pits were possibly contemporary with the ditches, as they respect each other.
In conclusion, the site represents the remnants of burgage plots that were in use during a broad medieval date. Post-excavation research is under way and the results of palaeoenvironmental, geological, radiocarbon dating, socio-historical/geographical and artefact studies will be incorporated in the excavation findings.
Reference
Graham, B. 2000 Urbanisation in Ireland during the High Middle Ages, c. 1100 to c. 1350. In Barry, T. (ed.), A history of settlement in Ireland, 124–39. London.