County: Dublin Site name: Milltown 3, Grange Castle West
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 19E0681
Author: David Bayley & Tim Coughlan
Site type: Linear ditches
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 701844m, N 731655m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.325342, -6.471206
The following are the preliminary results of an archaeological excavation at Milltown 3, Grange Castle West, Dublin 22, located at the site of the proposed Grange Castle West Access Road.
The site at Milltown 3 was comprised of two separate areas, Area 1 and Area 2.
Four 10m x 10m cuttings were opened in Area 1 to expose a north-east/south-west oriented linear ditch. The ditch was present in three of the four cuttings, but did not extend as far as the most south-westerly of the cuttings. As a result of the excavation works, this ditch has been interpreted as a former field boundary, possibly as part of a larger field system. Nothing to indicate a date was recovered during the excavation works.
In Area 2, a north-west/south-east oriented ditch extended across the width of the way-leave for the proposed road. As with the ditch in Area 1, the results from the excavation works mean that this ditch has been interpreted as a former field boundary, possibly as part of a wider field system. Stones at the base of the ditch, and the fact that there was a rapid build-up of ground water in the ditch, may indicate that it also served as a drainage ditch. Nothing to indicate a date for this ditch was recovered during the excavation.
A sub-rectangular pit, interpreted as a modern fire pit, that cut the eastern edge of the ditch, was also excavated in Area 2.
The initial finds from the excavation on site indicate that the features identified were former field boundaries, of unknown date. It is hoped that further analysis during ongoing post-excavation works can provide more information on the use and date of usage of the site.
c/o IAC Ltd, Unit G1 Network Enterprise Park, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow
