2019:044 - Goddamendy, Dublin

Licensed monitoring and excavations were undertaken for a Setanta Vehicle Testing Facility located in the townland of Goddamendy, The Ward, Dublin 15. The archaeological works consisted of excavation in one area (Area C) where a number of discrete pit features were identified during previous investigations (Excavations 2015:492; Licence No. 15E0267), and monitoring of groundworks associated with the development.
Area C contained a ditch (C.5), dumbbell-shaped pit (C.11) and a cereal-drying kiln (C.13). The ditch was orientated east–west and was 16.2m in length, 1.5-2.52m in width and 0.43-0.57m in depth. The basal fill comprised mid- to dark greyish-brown silty clay with frequent charcoal flecks and small chunks. The upper fill consisted of dark blackish-brown silty clay with moderate charcoal flecks and small chunks.
The dumbbell-shaped pit measured 5.1m in overall length. The overall shape of the pit comprised a central curvilinear element with expansions in the east and west extents. The curvilinear portion measured 2.7m in length by 0.45m in width by 0.11m in depth. The western expansion measured 1.65m by 0.9m by 0.2m in depth. The eastern expansion measured 1.2m by 1.1m by 0.21m in depth. The shape in profile of the pit throughout was concave with a rounded base. The pit had a single fill that comprised dark greyish-brown sandy silty clay with occasional charcoal flecks and occasional small charcoal chunks.
The kiln was sub-oval in plan and measured 1.98m by 1.3m by 0.3m in depth. The basal fill comprised dark blackish-brown silty clay with moderate charcoal flecks. The secondary fill consisted of mid-reddish-brown silty clay with occasional charcoal flecks and occasional patches of burnt clay. The upper fill comprised mid-greyish-brown silty clay with occasional charcoal flecks. There was a slightly deeper sub-circular depression near the centre of the base, where intense in situ burning was present around the edge.
During the monitoring works three further pits (C.15, C.17 and C.19) were identified and fully excavated. Pit C.15 measured 0.82m by 0.72m by 0.2m in depth and contained a single fill that consisted of dark brownish-black silty clay with frequent charcoal flecks and occasional flecks of burnt bone. Pit C.17 measured 0.42m by 0.36m by 0.2m in depth and contained a single fill that comprised moderately compact dark greyish-brown silty clay with inclusions of occasional small sub-rounded pebbles and occasional charcoal flecks. Pit C.19 measured 0.6m by 0.5m by 0.32m in depth and contained a single fill that comprised moderately compact dark greyish-brown silty clay with inclusions of occasional small sub-rounded pebbles and occasional charcoal flecks and small chunks.
Four struck flint lithics were recovered from pit C.19. No other artefacts were found during the excavations.
Post-excavation works are ongoing and it is hoped that specialist analysis and radiocarbon dating will enhance our understanding of the archaeology at Goddamendy.

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