2008:492 - Stephenstown, Area 6, Dublin

The excavation of Stephenstown, Area 6, took place during January and February 2008 on the route of a distribution road associated with the Balbriggan Outer Relief Road, Phase 5. Part of the distribution road was routed directly through the RMP constraint for DU005–052, a souterrain and enclosure site. Test-trenching of this area was undertaken in October and November 2007 by Fintan Walsh (Excavations 2007, No. 445, 07E0836) following a geophysical survey of the route (licence 07R0158). The survey revealed a large (probable) ringfort, with a double ditched interior enclosure, associated field systems and an exterior outer enclosing ditch. The majority of this enclosure lay outside the limits of the road development, although a section of the outer ditch extended into the wayleave of the proposed distribution road and drainage facilities. The ditch was identified during the testing programme and, prior to construction of the road, an excavation of the area to be impacted on (c. 90m south-east/north-west by 30m) was undertaken.
A significant scattering of early, possibly prehistoric, features was located along the eastern limit of the excavation, outside the outer enclosing ditch. Possible prehistoric features included two shallow linear features and a considerable number of pits, hearths and possible post-holes. The two linear features were orientated north-east/south-west and terminated close to the eastern edge of the outer enclosing ditch. The fill of the most northerly linear feature contained a single sherd of prehistoric pottery, which has yet to be positively identified. A second area of possible prehistoric activity was identified close to the north-west limit of the excavation outside the main enclosure. These features included of a group of irregular-shaped pits filled with largely sterile silty clays with infrequent inclusions of charcoal and no other datable material. An isolated post-hole was identified 0.65m from the eastern edge of the outer enclosing ditch, which contained a possible Neolithic hollow scraper.
A third area of possible prehistoric activity was identified within the outer enclosing ditch close to the western limit of the excavation. Many of these features were truncated by a large east–west-orientated field boundary or drainage ditch which was cut into the main ditch making the interpretation of these features difficult. They consisted of several large pits and a scattering of post-holes. One large subcircular pit was 2.6m long, 1.5m wide and 0.43m deep and contained over a hundred pieces of worked flint, including blades, a possible scraper, flakes, cores and struck debitage, indicating that flint-working took place on-site. The scattering of post-holes located to the south and south-east of the pits do not appear to form part of a substantial structure but may have formed part of a temporary hut or windbreak associated with the small flint industry. It is not clear at this time whether all these features were directly associated with each other due to the presence of the later ditch, but detailed post-excavation analysis of the finds and samples taken is ongoing.
A curvilinear foundation trench of a possible house was uncovered in the north-west corner of the site outside the main enclosing ditch. It had an internal diameter of 6.45m and was 0.55m wide and 0.4m deep, although the majority of the feature ran outside the limit of the excavation. It was filled with greyish-brown sandy clay with occasional fragments of burnt bone and flecks of charcoal. A stone spindle whorl, a small iron object and a lump of slag were also recovered from the fill of this feature.
The main feature recorded was a large, slightly curving linear ditch, which has been identified as the outer enclosing ditch of the probable bivallate ringfort. The excavation revealed a U-shaped ditch which was 69.5m long and was orientated south-east/north-west. The ditch averaged 4.5m in width at the upper levels, tapering to 0.6m at the base and was 1.4m at its deepest. The fills consisted of several layers of silts, sands and clays containing moderate quantities of charcoal and a considerable quantity of animal bone and shell. The upper fills appear to be slightly later, as several sherds of late 12th- to mid-14th-century pottery were recovered. With the exception of the discovery of a copper-alloy stick pin and a small fragment of a copper-alloy bracelet or buckle, the excavation uncovered very few significant finds associated with the main ditch and as a result, conclusive dating of the ditch will largely depend on environmental analysis.
The internal area of the enclosure was divided by two large east–west-orientated ditches. They appear to form part of the ringfort’s extensive associated field system and are clearly visible as two large, positive linear anomalies on the geophysical survey. The profile and dimensions of the main outer enclosing ditch change noticeably in the section of the ditch between these two field boundaries. The ditch gets considerably deeper and wider at this point and it is possible that this enclosed area may have been used as a cattle enclosure. The ditch running through the centre of the site was U-shaped in profile and was 12m long, 2.9m wide and had a maximum depth of 1.56m but extended beyond the limit of the excavation. It was filled with several layers of silts, sands and clays with moderate quantities of charcoal and a small amount of animal bone. The ditch located adjacent to the southern limit of the excavation was also U-shaped in profile and was 9.5m in length, 1.7m in width and had a maximum depth of 0.98m. It also extended beyond the limit of the excavation. The fills, which mainly consisted of silts and clays, contained a small quantity of charcoal and animal bone.
A possible corn-drying kiln and a large circular pit were identified close to the western limit of the excavation between the two field boundaries. The kiln was keyhole-shaped in plan and was 3.5m long, 0.71m wide and had an average depth of 0.84m. The primary fill consisted of soft, reddish-brown silty clay which contained moderate inclusions of oxidised clay and charcoal. Corn-drying kilns are usually situated at a considerable distance from settlement sites to reduce the risk of the spread of fire. The kiln may have also served some industrial purpose such as metalworking or pottery manufacture but no evidence was recovered to suggest either function. The large circular pit was located 11m south-west of the kiln at the base of a gentle slope. It was 2.5m long, 2.3m wide and was 1.3m deep. As soon as the pit was excavated it rapidly filled with water and therefore may have functioned as a well.