2021:496 - Corke Little, Shankill, Dublin

The programme of archaeological monitoring and excavation on the site in Corke Little and Shanganagh townlands near Shankill in south Dublin continued in 2021. The main phase of the excavation was completed between April and October 2021. The monitoring is ongoing and the remainder will be reported on in due course.
Seventeen archaeological areas had been identified during previous geophysical surveying and subsequent testing. A bivallate enclosure in one of the archaeological areas (Area 2) was preserved in situ. The remaining areas were stripped and the features excavated over the course of the programme.
Archaeological areas 5, 6, 8, 10 and 17 were excavated in late 2020 (Excavations Ref. 2021:468).
Monitoring for enabling works and the establishment of the site compound to the west also took place in 2021. Five additional areas of archaeology were identified to during the monitoring programme in 2021 (Areas 18, 19, 20. 21 and 22) and these were subsequently excavated.

Area 1
A large Bronze Age penannular enclosure measuring 32.2m by 26.6m internally was excavated centrally within the area. An entrance in the form of an undug causeway measuring 3.2m in width was identified to the east. The interior had been scarped with few features surviving. A fire-pit was uncovered to the north, with a second near the entrance to the east. A shallow pit associated with two stake-holes was uncovered near the centre of the enclosure. A small spread with charcoal inclusions and a pit with a sterile fill were the only other features surviving in the interior.
The remains of a low bank were identified on the external side of the ditch at one point, though it was largely ploughed out. The ditch was up to 1.8m in width and 1m in depth. Six re-cutting events were identified indicating the ditch was maintained over an extended period of time. Finds including Late Bronze Age ceramics, ground stone tools, worked flint and a broken quern stone, were retrieved from the ditch, particularly from the charcoal fills of the later recuts. Animal bone and burnt bone were also retrieved from these layers, which appeared to be domestic waste. A more complete vessel was retrieved from the ditch to the south-west at the base of one of the recuts.
A number of features were identified to the west of the enclosure including two intercutting prehistoric post-holes directly west of the enclosure. The later post-hole contained a number of sherds of prehistoric ceramic including Beaker and possibly Early Neolithic. Two later pits cut the tops of the post-holes. It is unknown at present whether the post-holes are related to the enclosure or represent an earlier phase of activity. A fire-pit, a post-hole and a pit with a metalled base were also uncovered to the west.
A shallow ditch that appears to be part of a late prehistoric coaxial field system was uncovered to the north of the enclosure. A complex of three intercutting kilns, probably of early medieval date, truncated the ditch to the west. A burial, which may be contemporary with the second kiln, was also excavated.

Area 3
A number of large pits were uncovered centrally in Area 3, which contained rare inclusions of Beaker ceramics. These appear to be the earliest features in the area.
To the west a truncated highly decorated Early Bronze Age inverted urn was uncovered, which had been inverted onto a large unworked granite stone within a pit. A near-complete inverted food vessel, again highly decorated, was uncovered in a pit adjacent to the urn. Another nearby pit was found to contain a similarly-sized granite stone as the urn pit. While no urn or ceramic sherds survived within the pit a small quantity of cremated bone was retrieved from the pit, which may indicate it was another urn burial. The topsoil cover in Area 3 was very shallow at 0.1-0.2m and the upper levels of many features were impacted by agricultural activity.
The next activity in the area related to two phases of settlement, likely to be Iron Age in date. The earliest was associated with the late prehistoric coaxial field system. A sub-rectangular post- and stake-built structure (Structure 3) measuring c. 5.4m by 4m was associated with the earlier phase of the settlement. A number of metalled pathways, a metalled yard and iron production appear to have been a feature of the earlier phase of the settlement. The settlement was unenclosed, though a ditch forming part of the field system protected the western approach. The second phase of the settlement saw construction of a second sub-rectangular structure (Structure 8) further south, which was defined by a slot trench measuring 5.5m in length and a minimum of 2m in width. A sub-oval enclosure measuring c. 33m by 18m defined by a shallow gully surrounded the structure. Two cereal-drying kilns may have been associated with either phase of the settlement while numerous pits were also uncovered.
Two ring-ditches were identified relating to the settlement. The larger measured 6.13m in diameter internally and survived to a depth of 0.4m. Two phases were identified. The fill of the initial cut was sterile. No finds were identified in the fills of the recut, however a deposit of sub-angular and rounded stones of granite and limestone was present within the recut around the full circumference of the ring-ditch.
The smaller ring-ditch measured 3.37m in diameter internally and was up to 0.8m in depth. A number of recuts were identified within the ditch. A pit was cut into the basal fill of the ditch to the east, the fill of which contained frequent inclusions of burnt bone and charcoal. This may be a cremation deposit, suggesting the ring-ditch was the remains of a barrow. Scorching was evident in the interior of the enclosure to the west, possibly indicting the interior of the ring-ditch also served as pyre. No other features were present in the interior. A number of finds were retrieved from the ring-ditch, predominantly from the latest two recuts. Two fragments of purple glass rod and six glass beads were retrieved. The beads included two small yellow glass beads, two clear glass beads, a partially melted twisted annular blue glass bead and a partially melted yellow and clear Meare variant bead. The finds suggest an Iron Age date, c. 200BC - AD200, with the purple glass in particular suggesting connections with Britain or the Continent. A discrete deposit of thirty-three small ovoid stones, predominantly of water-rolled granite, were also retrieved from the ring-ditch. These appear to be sling-stones, which are rarely identified in Irish contexts and may also point to overseas connections.
A substantial complex of five intercutting kilns was uncovered to the north of the area cutting into the shallow enclosure gully of the Phase 2 settlement. These appear to be early medieval in date.

Area 4
A large ironworking waste pit was uncovered at the eastern end of Area 4 suggesting a furnace may be present nearby. This was associated with a metalled surface, which ran beyond the limit of excavation. Another metalled pathway, a fire-pit and a post-hole were also uncovered in the area along with later post-medieval ditches and drainage features.

Area 7
A large pit was uncovered centrally in Area 7, the fill of which contained some charcoal. An ironworking furnace and adjacent waste pit were identified cutting into the backfilled pit.

Area 9
One potentially late prehistoric section of ditch was excavated in Area 9 along with a number of post-medieval linear features. The earlier ditch terminated to the north and continued to the south so will be encountered again.

Area 11
A single post-hole with packing stones present was identified in Area 11.

Area 12
A pit containing a fire-reddened fill was excavated in Area 12 along with an adjacent stake-hole.

Area 13
A fire-pit, a pit and two patches of scorching were uncovered in Area 13. Sherds of prehistoric pottery were retrieved from the fill of the fire-pit.

Area 14
No archaeological features were identified within Area 14.

Area 15
Two spreads of material containing burnt clay, charcoal and burnt bone were identified in Area 15. Neither were associated with a cut.

Area 18
Area 18 was identified during the monitoring to the south-west of Area 17. Over 100 features were uncovered across the area with Beaker pottery retrieved from many of the features. Along with the structures uncovered in Area 17 many of the features here appear to relate to an unenclosed settlement dating to the Chalcolithic or Early Bronze Age.
A large occupational spread measuring 20m by 7.5m and 0.05-0.3m in depth was uncovered, which was associated with a sub-rectangular structure (Structure 7) measuring 6.35m by 6m defined by five post-holes to the north, two to the south and two internal posts. A partially stone-lined fire-pit was uncovered in the interior along with a series of intercutting pits.
Four other possible structures were identified while the suggestion of a fifth (Structure 6) was found to be completely ploughed out upon excavation. Structure 4 was uncovered to the south of Area 17 and was defined by the remains of six post-holes and a stake-hole around the exterior with one post-hole and the scant remains of an occupational spread identified in the interior. The structure was C-shaped in plan and measured c. 4.5m in diameter with an opening to the east. Structure 9, possibly a sub-circular structure, was identified to the north of the large occupational spread. An arc of stake-holes and an elongated pit were identified to the south-west with a series of shallow cuts to the north-east appear to define the other side of the structure with one post-hole identified in the interior. If all elements are correct the structure would have measured c. 5.5m in diameter, though the structure may also be the remains of a fence-line. Structure 14 was identified at the southern end of the area as an arc of post-holes associated with another occupational spread. This may be an arcing fence-line or the remains of a structure. More monitoring is required to the south here so additional elements may yet be uncovered. Structure 5 was defined by three uprights forming a triangular plan, which were 0.5-0.59m apart. This was similar to another structure identified in Area 17 in the 2020 season and may relate to a lightweight rack or tripod feature of some sort.
Numerous pits were identified across the area, some containing quantities of Beaker ceramics suggesting they were associated with the settlement. One large pit to the north had post- and stake-holes in its sides at one end. A clay lining was also present. This may have been a subterranean storage pit, covered at one end and accessed at the other. Other large elongated pits with largely sterile silt fills were also identified across the area.
Later activity was also identified with two ironworking furnaces and an adjacent waste pit identified along with two cereal-drying kilns. These may date to the late prehistoric or early medieval period.

Area 19
Area 19 was identified during the monitoring programme in the south-west corner of the site. A pit containing a large quantity of Beaker ceramics, flint debitage, a quartz scraper and some retouched flint was uncovered towards the western limit of excavation. Two other pits that were probably contemporary were identified nearby.
A number of additional features associated with the ironworking activity uncovered in Area 6 in the 2020 works were excavated. Three furnaces, two intercutting waste pits, two possible charcoal production pits, a surface, a possible windbreak, post-holes, additional pits and a large cistern were uncovered indicating a substantial iron production site had been present in the south-west corner of the site. The remains of a cereal-drying kiln were uncovered nearby, which may be contemporary. These features may relate to the Iron Age settlement in Area 3, or be a later phase of activity.
A number of undated pits and later post-medieval ditches and drains were also present.

Area 20
Area 20 was identified to the south-east of Area 18 and was stripped for a temporary car park. An ironworking furnace, a waste-pit containing charcoal and burnt granite stones and an additional fourteen pits were excavated across the area. Some of the pits contained low quantities of slag indicating they are contemporary or later than the nearby metalworking activity.

Area 21
Area 21 was identified to the east of Area 17 during the monitoring programme. The most significant feature in the area was Structure 10, which was defined by an arc of four post-pits to the west with an additional post-pit along the same arc further to the north-east, defining an area measuring c. 2.2m internally. The post-pits were c. 0.5-0.7m in diameter and 0.3m in depth. The post-pits may originally have been associated with some form of Late Neolithic wooden architecture, however they were subsequently used for the structured deposition of artefacts within charcoal-rich fills. The range of artefacts varied between the post-pits suggesting specific items were being deposited in each feature. Large quantities of Grooved Ware ceramic from at least two vessels were retrieved from one of the post-pits along with large quantities of flint debitage, retouched flint, burnt bone, charred organics, and a broken polished stone axe. Flint scrapers, struck flint, a grinding stone and a hammer stone were retrieved from another of the post-pits. Hammer stones, flint debitage, small sherds of probable Grooved Ware ceramic, hazelnut shells and a collection of burnt stones of varying geologies were retrieved from a third post-pit. Another was found to contain small sherds of probable Grooved Ware ceramic, flint scrapers, flint debitage, and a charred nutshell. The fifth post-pit contained worked flint, flint debitage, burnt bone, small sherds of probable Grooved Ware ceramic and two hammer stones.
Structure 12 was a sub-square structure uncovered in the north-west of Area 12 and was defined by two post-pits to the south and two smaller post-holes to the north. The structure measured c. 5.4m by 5.4m. It was not associated with any artefacts, though similar four-post structures have been identified in Dublin at Steelstown and dated to the Late Neolithic period.
A number or additional undated pits and later post-medieval features were identified across the area.

Area 22
Area 22 was identified along the southern end of the development site. Three undated pits and a number of post-medieval ditches were investigated in this area.

The Eleven Acres
A portion of the site was located to the north-east and separated from the main development by the railway tracks. This area is to be developed into two golf holes for Woodbrook Golf Club. Areas 2 and 16 were located in this part of the site. The bivallate enclosure identified in the previous geophysical survey and testing in Area 2 was preserved in situ with the remainder of the Eleven Acres being monitored in full. Features were identified sporadically across the area and were subsequently excavated.
Three pits containing sherds of prehistoric pottery, flint and charcoal were identified in the northern field along with the remains of a structure. Structure 11 was defined by four post-holes possibly forming a right-angled corner. A stake-hole uncovered on one side gave the structure a T-shaped plan. The structure measured 6.2m by 6.1m. No additional features were uncovered to indicate the structure related to a building. It may represent a fence-line. A cluster of pits containing burnt material was also uncovered within the field along with a number of more isolated and undated pits and post-holes. A truncated cereal-drying kiln was also excavated, which may be early medieval in date, contemporary with the bivallate enclosure in the southern field.
In the southern field a number of prehistoric pits were identified in the vicinity of Area 16 to the east. One of these contained sherds of Early Neolithic Carinated Bowl while sherds of unidentified prehistoric pottery were retrieved from another pit.
Two sections of ditch were identified radiating out from the bivallate enclosure, which are likely to relate to an associated field system. A cereal-drying kiln was uncovered adjacent to one of the ditches. The kiln was later replaced by a larger partially stone-lined example within a small enclosure. A work area and stone windbreak structure (Structure 15) were identified within the enclosure, with a fragment of broken quern stone being retrieved from the work area.
A number of fire-pits and other isolated pits and post-holes were excavated across the southern field, which were undated.

Conclusion
The excavations on the site have revealed a largely prehistoric landscape. Some intermittent Early Neolithic activity was followed by more concerted activity in the Late Neolithic with two possible structures dating to this period. This was followed by an unenclosed settlement to the west associated with a considerable quantity of Beaker ceramic and flint. In the Early Bronze Age an urn burial was deposited to the east along with an accompanying food vessel. In the Late Bronze Age a substantial enclosure, presumably associated with a settlement, was created to the north, which would have been within the catchment of the hillfort at Rathmichael c. 2.5km to the west. Two phases of Iron Age settlement were to follow this, possibly associated with a coaxial field system, along with two ring-ditches. Thirteen ironworking furnaces have also been uncovered across the southern end of the site, which may be associated with the Iron Age settlement.
In the early medieval period a large bivallate enclosure was constructed to the north, which may have been the driving force behind the numerous cereal-drying kilns across the site.
There was little evidence for medieval activity on the site, while later field boundaries and drains showed the site reverting to a more pastoral landscape in the post-medieval period. A large gravel pit, possibly late 18th or early 19th century in date, was uncovered to the west along with an adjacent solidly built limekiln. These may relate to the construction of Crinken Church to the west, which opened in 1840.
Monitoring and excavation is continuing at the site.

Archaeology Plan, 32 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2