2014:145 - Scoil Náisiúnta Mhuire, Garter Lane, Saggart, Co. Dublin, Dublin

An excavation took place at a greenfield site in Saggart in January-March 2014.  The site was at the eastern end of Saggart village, situated between the church and parochial house of St Mary's to the south, and a modern apartment scheme (Tassagard Greens) and Citywest Golf Course to the north. GAA playing pitches are situated to the rear (east) of the site.

While deep truncation had removed most archaeological deposits at the street frontage and along the centre of Area 1, an impressive density of medieval features was present in those areas along the edge of the site that had not been subject to modern disturbance. Three substantial long-running ditches ran parallel, 18-20m apart, and appear to have defined the burgage plots of individual holdings within the medieval borough. The spacing of the ditches suggest a 4:1 length-to-width ratio, and an enclosed area of about half an acre.

Nine truncated pits, probably waste pits, were excavated across a small area of 8m square. The density and frequent intercutting of these features where they do survive seems to be indicative of sustained domestic activity over a long period. Their location suggests that waste disposal was taking place in the area behind houses that were close to the present street front.

In the rear of the site five sub-rectangular earth-cut troughs appeared to represent three or more Bronze Age fulachta fiadh. These were located around a watercourse or flooded hollow at the lowest point of the field, where the margins of the firmer yellow clay permitted the excavation of stable trough sides, and the underlying and adjacent gravelly subsoil facilitated the filling and potentially filtering of water.

Two of the fulachts had just one rectangular trough, but the third had at least three troughs, including one significantly larger and deeper than the rest. It is not clear whether these troughs were in use simultaneously or consecutively. An irregular curvilinear feature nearby between the yellow clay and underlying gravels may represent either a natural stream line or an early attempt to channel water in the area of the fulacht activity, and at least one of the modern field drains in the area appears to have followed and possibly reworked substantially the same line. A single stake-hole was recorded within the side of the largest and deepest trough.

Additional fulacht activity was identified but preserved in situ below a green space.

Archaeology Plan, 32 Fitzwilliam Place Dublin 2