2018:592 - CORBALLIS (11), Dublin

This site was identified during pre-development assessment (17E0630) in advance of a residential development. A 55m x 55m area was mechanically stripped of topsoil to reveal subsoil and a 16m diameter deposit of burnt stone and charcoal. The archaeological features were situated on a very slight rise above the surrounding ground. Several modern agricultural/drainage features were also noted. The burnt mound material was removed to reveal 11 pits filled with similar heat-shattered stone and charcoal fills. The 11 pits were generally circular in shape, large (>1.5m diameter) and of varying depth (maximum 0.85m). Many of the cuts retained rainwater or collected ground water during wet weather. In lieu of radiocarbon dating, the features are assumed to be broadly contemporary (i.e. Bronze Age). None of the pits had surviving evidence for lining. All contained varying proportions of charcoal and heat-fractured stone. Three pits (F7, F23 and F27) had occasional inclusions of fragmentary animal bone.

Two additional pits were located 20m south-west of the other features. Between the two clusters was a modern drain/ditch. No archaeological finds were recovered from the excavated deposits.