2017:777 - DUBLIN AIRPORT NORTH RUNWAY PROJECT—Excavation of Site A, Pickardstown, Dublin

Site A is located within the proposed development area of the North Runway Project at Dublin Airport in the townland of Pickardstown. Site A was identified during advance archaeological investigations which included a non-invasive geophysical survey by Target Geophysics (16R0097) and archaeological test-trenching (16E0335) by Courtney Deery Heritage Consultancy (CDHC). The geophysical survey identified a large sub-oval ditched enclosure. Within the enclosure two linear features were noted intersecting around the mid-point, as well as six pits.

Excavation of Site A was undertaken between 1 February and 28 July 2017. Topsoil stripping exposed a large sub-oval shaped enclosure (F4) and numerous internal features including the remains of a possible structure, defined by four foundation trenches, a kiln, ten pits and five linear ditches/gullys. External features identified included a field drain in the north-west corner of the site and a linear feature, kilns/flue and a field drain in the south-east corner of the site. A metalled surface was also identified immediately north of the enclosure ditch (F4) and extended into the area defined by the enclosure ditch and may have functioned as an entranceway.

The enclosure ditch F4 was sub-oval in shape and had internal dimensions north-south of 57m by 42m, external dimensions north-south of 62m by 49m. It varied in width from 2.5m to 4.4m and varied in depth from 0.8m to 1.4m. It contained numerous fills. Small fragments of timber, a small quantity of cereal grains, charcoal, a small quantity of animal bone and one fragment of burnt bone were recovered from the fills contained within the enclosure ditch F4.

The kilns F57 & F141 and the flue F85 were identified in the south-east corner of the site outside the enclosure ditch F4. F57 was a keyhole-shaped drying kiln. Charcoal, oxidized clay and cereal grains were contained within the fill. A number of stones lined the flue between the drying chamber (located to the north-west) and the stoke-hole. The kiln F141 was figure-of-eight in shape and located immediately south-east of F57. Charcoal and moderate quantities of cereal grains were recovered from this feature. A radiocarbon date was also obtained and returned a date of 6th-7th century AD.

Site A represented the remains of an early medieval enclosure which was located within a landscape dominated by early medieval/medieval settlement and associated agricultural activities. Evidence of occupation and habitation were identified at Site A via pits, kilns, a metalled surface, gullys/linear features and the remnants of a possible internal structure. Two enclosures were identified within this scheme – Site A and Site B, and both enclosures were located within the same townland and represented successive phases of enclosure activity. Two features at Site A were radiocarbon dated from the 6th-7th century AD. Dateable artefacts from the site were few. A bone pin was recovered from the possible structure located within the enclosure and was tentatively dated from 10th-mid 11th century AD.