County: Dublin Site name: Corballis 12
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 18E0111
Author: Aidan O'Connell
Site type: Fulacht fiadh
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 722703m, N 749149m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.478055, -6.151451
This site was identified during pre-development assessment (17E0630) in advance of a residential development. A large area 65m east-west x 40m was mechanically stripped of topsoil to reveal subsoil and a discontinuous spread of burnt stone and charcoal. The spread was truncated by later agricultural or drainage features and sealed thirteen pits and post-holes of various shapes and sizes. Most features were filled with burnt mound material. The dominant feature in the site was F36 (15m x 8m x 1.1m), a large, naturally-formed depression, probably a root bole from a fallen tree, which was re-purposed as a trough/pit. The base may have been intentionally formed into a rectangular shaped trough (F59), but this was not conclusive. Anaerobic (waterlogged) conditions at the base of F36 preserved small fragments of wood/root.
Approximately 20m east of the burnt spread and associated features were two features. A roughly circular pit (1.1m x 0.85m x 0.07m), and a possible kiln (3m x 1.6m (max) x 0.34m). This had the shape of a kiln, with a circular bowl (fire pit?) to the south-east and a linear flue extending to the north-west. In the fill, large stones were interpreted as possible displaced lining. There was no evidence, however, of burning within the possible fire pit.
No archaeological finds were recovered from stratified deposits. A small body sherd of prehistoric pottery (18E0106:1:1), possibly of Middle or Late Bronze Age date, was found during clear back. A possibly struck flint pebble was also retained (18E0106:1:2).
Archer Heritage Planning, 8 Beat Centre, Stephenstown, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin.
