2007:513 - FLEMINGTOWN, Dublin

Excavation was carried out at Flemingtown, Balbriggan, between 17 April and 17 August 2007. Situated on the south-west slope of a small hill, the site afforded exceptional views of the Mourne Mountains to the north-east and the sea to the east. The site of a holy well (DU001–004) was located c. 200m to the north on the hilltop. Geophysical survey identified a complex of archaeological activity in the location.

The earliest activity on the site was represented by a large curving ditch, which may have enclosed the hilltop and appears to have dated to the Middle Bronze Age. Features contemporary with this included large areas of metalling, both internal and external to the enclosure, and a number of linear features. Finds from this phase included four barbed and tanged chert arrowheads, which are likely to date to 1500 bc (E. Grogan, pers. comm.). Large quantities of struck and worked flint retrieved during excavation may also date from this period.

Domestic structural evidence was found on the northerly high ground of the site and, while this was stratigraphically later than the earliest Bronze Age phase and truncated by medieval features, it was impossible to stratify more closely than this and no diagnostic finds were retrieved to assist in dating. The evidence was composed of substantial post-holes with packing stones in situ, shallow possible plank slots and internal stake-hole divisions. There appeared to be two rectangular structures, both 10m by 4.5m in dimension and orientated north-west to south-east. One of these had a hearth at its northern end and a number of internal pits. It is possible that two curvilinear features, possibly foundation slots for a wattle-and-daub fence, may have enclosed the structures in an area c. 20m in diameter.

Industrial activity was represented on the site. Small metalworking pits were uncovered to the south, where small-scale ironworking appears to have been carried out. There were also two kilns excavated on the site and one of these was cut into the fill of a ditch.

A souterrain was uncovered in the northern extent of the site. This featured a large circular chamber, opening north into a passageway that continued beyond the limit of excavation, and south into a smaller circular chamber that was raised in level and may have represented an entranceway. A second large chamber was exposed to the west but most of this lay beyond the limit of excavation and its shape in plan could not be determined. A bone needle was retrieved from the fill of the large circular chamber and a number of fragments of fired clay. Two fragments of a stone imitation lignite bracelet were retrieved from an irregular-shaped ditch south within the site. The bracelet is thought to be early medieval in date (E. Grogan, pers. comm.) and may link this particular ditch with the souterrain phase of activity on the site.

Of the many ditches and curvilinear features that post-dated the Bronze Age activity, it is not so easy to determine how many others may have been associated with this early medieval period. The vast majority, however, appeared to respect a massive ditch (or moat), over 3m wide and nearly 2m deep, which certainly defined the western border of activity. An L-shaped portion of this ditch was exposed within the excavation area. It was orientated north-north-west/south-south-east along the western border of the site and took a 90° turn at the south, continuing beyond the limit of excavation to the east and north. It is possible that it represented the main ditch or moat of a large moated site of the later medieval period. Indeed it would have enclosed an area of over 35m by 96m. Of the features within this enclosure, many of the linear features may have been ditches associated with water management, although some were likely to have been farming related. Some of the curvilinear features appeared to enclose or define areas both large and small with little evidence of their internal activity. Perhaps they were internal divisions assisting in the organisation of a relatively large farmstead or semi-fortified dwelling.

Two parallel ditches to the west of the large ditch (or moat) may have been later field boundaries that reflected its alignment. Certainly they are likely to have been of some antiquity in their own right, as they are at odds with the existing north–south field boundary and indeed the first-edition OS map.

Post-excavation work is ongoing with respect to this site and results are still preliminary. Specialist results will hopefully aid more accurate dating and interpretation.

47 White Castle Lawn, Athy, Co. Kildare