2008:458 - Folkstown Great, Areas 2 and 3, Dublin

The excavation of Folkstown Great, Areas 2 and 3, took place during February 2008 on the route of the Balbriggan Outer Relief Road, Phase 5. The remains of a possible medieval activity were identified at the site as a result of a programme of testing carried out by Fintan Walsh (Excavations 2007, No. 445, 07E0836).
Area 2
The medieval activity in Area 2 consisted of a possible corn-drying kiln, a slot-trench, a post-hole with stone packing and three possible drainage ditches. The kiln consisted of a T-shaped, stone-lined flue which ran from the north-east to the south-west for a distance of 3.6m before branching off in two directions. One channel ran 2.25m to the south-east before opening into a circular-shaped bowl which was 1.6m in diameter. The second channel ran for 3m to the north-west before terminating 0.15m from the edge of a ditch. The subcircular shaped fire-bowl was located directly to the south-east of the flue and was filled with greyish/black clayey silt which contained several sherds of mid-12th- to mid-14th-century pottery. The slot-trench and post-hole located 1.35m south-east of the kiln may represent the remains of an associated structure, possibly a drying shed, but extensive post-medieval activity in the area has removed all traces of any associated features.
Two parallel ditches orientated north-east/south-west were located on either side of the kiln and may represent attempts by the kiln users to keep their work space dry as the structure was located at the bottom of a gentle slope and may have been prone to flooding. The ditch located to the south-east of the kiln was U-shaped in profile and was 19.5m long, 1.25m wide and was 0.34m deep. The ditch located to the north-west of the kiln was also U-shaped in profile and was 32m long, 1.5m wide and was 0.3m deep. Several sherds of mid-12th- to mid-14th-century pottery were recovered from the fills of both ditches which indicated that they were broadly contemporary with the kiln. A third ditch, 8.3m long, 1.3m wide and 0.28m deep, was located 4.5m south-west of the kiln. This ditch may have represented further attempts to keep the work area dry, although no datable material was recovered from the fill of this feature.
The medieval activity in the south-east section of Area 2 was truncated by a pit and a number of ditches containing numerous sherds of post-medieval pottery, glass and brick. A large north-east/south-west orientated ditch located close to the southern extent of Area 2 was identified as a modern drainage ditch, as a stone-lined drain was discovered running along the base of the feature. A second north-east/south-west orientated ditch with a terminus at its southern end was located 0.3m north-east of the modern ditch. It may have been slightly earlier in date as the fill contained several sherds of 17th-century pottery. Other post-medieval features included two narrow linear features which were cut by the modern drainage ditch and an oval-shaped pit containing post-medieval and modern pottery.
Area 3
The medieval activity in Area 3 consisted of two possible medieval structures, which were identified in the road wayleave close to the south-west limit of the excavation. Structure A was defined by a substantial right-angled foundation trench which was truncated by a large pond to the west. Almost none of the foundation stones had remained in situ and associated rubble was scattered to the east and north-east of the foundation trench. The remains of a north–south-orientated boundary wall with a possible entrance was located 3m to the east of the foundation trench and consisted of a single course of drystone walling. An extensive metalled surface was exposed to the east of the boundary wall and probably represented the remains of a yard associated with the structure.
Structure B consisted of the fragmentary remains of a medieval structure, which was located in the south-east corner of the road wayleave and was truncated by the existing laneway to the south. The remaining features consisted of the remains of two walls which intersected each other at a right angle. The walls comprised a single course of drystone walling. Associated features included a large irregular-shaped pit with evidence of in situ burning along its base, a deposit which contained charcoal-rich material and a deep circular pit located to the north-east of the structure. Both features contained several sherds of mid-12th- to late-14th-century pottery.
Post-medieval activity in Area 3 consisted of a number of north-east/south-west-orientated drainage ditches. The water from these drainage ditches flowed into a large pond which was situated just outside the southern limit of excavation and was still full of water. Two substantial subrectangular-shaped pits were also located close to the north-east limit of the excavation. One of the pits was lined with mortared stone and had a thick layer of mortar lining the base. Several sherds of post-medieval pottery and an iron nail were recovered from the fill of the pit. The second pit was located directly to the north of and was similar in size and shape except that the stone lining had been removed. The function of the two pits was unclear but they may have been the remains of two simple post-medieval limekilns.