2021:468 - Corke Little, Shankill, Dublin

A programme of archaeological monitoring and excavation was carried out on a site in Corke Little and Shanganagh townlands near Shankill in south Dublin from December 2020. A short programme of excavation was carried out in 2020 before the works were postponed due to Covid restrictions. The works are ongoing (April 2022) and the remainder will be reported on in due course.

Seventeen archaeological areas had been identified during previous geophysical surveying and subsequent testing. Five of these were resolved between December 2020 and January 2021.

Area 5
A cluster of pits and post-holes were excavated in Area 5. At present these are undated however prehistoric activity was identified in Area 17 to the south and the features in Area 5 are likely to be an extension of this.

Area 6
Four metalworking furnaces were excavated in Area 6 along with a charcoal-production pit and a possible storage pit. The initial indications are that this may be late prehistoric in date.

Area 8
A large pit was excavated in Area 8. It appears isolated at present, however this may change once the area around it has been stripped.

Area 10
Two post-medieval drainage features were identified in Area 10.

Area 17
Area 17 was the largest area excavated during the initial works at Corke Little. The centre of the area was truncated by a large post-medieval gravel quarry, which was dug into a natural gravel outcrop occupying the eastern end of the area. A truncated brick-built limekiln was excavated to the west of the quarry. A number of post-medieval ditches was identified, which were truncated by the quarry. There is no record of a quarry in this location on the cartographic sources, however it may relate to the construction of the nearby Crinken Church.

To the north of the quarry three prehistoric structures and a number of additional pits and post-holes were uncovered.

Structure 1 was C-shaped in plan, open to the north-west and was c. 3.6m in diameter internally. It was defined by eight post- and stake-holes with an additional two stake-holes identified in the interior along with a pit. No finds were retrieved from the structure, however a number of sherds of Beaker pottery were retrieved from the plough soil directly overlying it.

Structure 2 was U-shaped in plan and open to the west, measuring c. 2.7m in diameter. It was defined by an arc of intercutting pits to the north and by a slot, stake-holes and later pits to the south. An assemblage of Beaker pottery was retrieved from the slot to the south, while worked flint was retrieved from the northern arc. The base of a hearth was identified to the west of the structure. A post-medieval field drain ran directly over the structure, partially truncating it.

To the north-east of Structure 2 three stake-holes were uncovered forming a triangular shape in plan with the two smaller stake-holes being equidistant from the larger one. These may relate to a small lightweight tri-pod structure of some sort.

The excavations to date at Corke Little are revealing an intriguing prehistoric landscape. The works will continue in 2022.

Archaeology Plan, 32 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2