2018:257 - Newtown, Dublin Airport Logistics Park, Fingal, Dublin

Work took place in a green field site in Dublin Airport Logistics Park in Fingal, Co. Dublin for Rohan Holdings Ltd. The purpose was to determine the nature and extent of the archaeological remains within the western portion of the ringfort DU014-006001 in order to assess the significance of the site and the potential impacts of the proposed development on the site. The eastern half of the ringfort is preserved in situ in the adjoining site (to the east), which is occupied by a DHL warehouse. Testing was undertaken in January/February 2018.
A measured drone survey of the stripped site was conducted in January 2018 and this was used as the foundation survey to record the site. A magnetometry geophysical survey (18R0029, J. M. Leigh) was also conducted across the site once all soil stripping was complete. The drone survey and the geophyscial survey results were both combined in a GIS package and this was used in the interpretation of the nature and extent of the archaeological remains.
Dr. Linda Lynch, osteoarchaeologist, visited the site to examine the human remains which were recorded in the interior of the site when the terram was removed.
An area measuring 0.5ha (5000 m2) was stripped to reveal the full extent of the ringfort and the remains of the ringfort fully occupies that area. The site comprises three concentric ditches, with the innermost 2 (Ditches 1 and 2) overlapping slightly in their southernmost arc. Ditches 2 and 3 maintain a concentric arrangement throughout their visible arcs. An entrance is formed by Ditch 1 terminating at the south end of the site however Ditches 2 and 3 do not have any termini visible.
Within the area of the 3 ditches a core occupation area measuring 2500 m2 has been identified in the east and south parts of the site. The three ditches (1-3) enclose the highest point in the micro topography of the site and the occupation area is on the most level ground within their enclosing arc, albeit the ground slopes slightly to the north and west. It is apparent that the ringfort dwellers chose to live on the best level ground at the highest point available to them.
Three other ditches (Nos 4-6) are present which appear to radiate out from, and are connected to, the arc of the inner ditch (Ditch No. 1).
Our main hypothesis for the development of the site is as follows:
a. Ditch 1 represents the earliest, univallate enclosure (c. 1300 m2) and it had an associated field system (Ditches Nos 4-6) attached to the west.
b. The early univallate ringfort was expanded outwards and replaced by a bivallate ringfort represented by Ditches 2 and 3.

The entrance to the univallate fort measures 12m in width and is located to the south. A slot trench and series of pits/post-holes are located on the west side of the entrance. The ringfort was expanded and the original ditch was backfilled and a new larger bivallate (double bank and ditch) ringfort was constructed (c. 5000 m2). The bivallate enclosing element is continuous within the area of the site so it is likely that the entrance is located to the east outside the area of development. A probable entrance is visible in the Leo Swan aerial photographs in an area east of the site.
There is extensive evidence for early medieval occupation in the interior of the site which includes two round houses and a series of pits and hearths. A group of burials, representing at least six individuals, has been recorded in the area to the north of the round houses.

Lickybeg, Clashmore, Co Waterford. P36 WA44