2021:590 - Ballymastone AA9, Donabate, Dublin

A large cutting (1978 sq. m.) was opened at Ballymastone centred on features identified during test excavations from 2007 and 2021. The remains of a modern haul road were revealed along the southern margin of the cutting. No evidence was identified relating to the circular feature from the earlier test excavation but two modest clusters of features 60m apart were revealed. The western cluster comprised a pit and nearby short linear feature. The pit contained fills characterized by heat-affected stone in a dark charcoal-rich/stained soil. A flint flake was retrieved from the fill of the linear feature. A charcoal fragment from the fill of the pit produced a radiocarbon date 980-810 cal. 2ẟ BC (UBA 48277; 2745 +/- 32 BP) placing activity here in the Late Bronze Age. Charcoal analysis of the pit soil samples identified mostly hazel with lesser amounts of pomoideae (fruitwood) and prunus (blackthorn/cherry) suggesting the use for fuelwood. The eastern cluster comprised an irregular shallow sub-rectangular pit with a post-hole in one corner and another along the internal margin. Two shallow re-cut pits were identified in the top fill of the pit. The fills of the pit contained much oxidised clay and charcoal and a single flint flake while the bulk soil sample produced only oak charcoal suggesting an industrial purpose for the pit.

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