County: Dublin Site name: Newcastle South, Phase 2, Newcastle
Sites and Monuments Record No.: DU020-003008 Licence number: 20E0024 ext.
Author: David Bayley
Site type: Kiln, walls, ditches, pits, burnt mound
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 699646m, N 728464m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.297093, -6.505190
Archaeological testing was carried out over the course of seven days from the 8th November 2021 and followed a geophysical survey carried out across the site. The trenches targeted the zone of notification for recorded monument DU020-003008 (Medieval settlement of Newcastle), geophysical anomalies and open green space to fully investigate the archaeological potential of the site. Four areas of archaeological significance were identified (AA1-AA4).
The western part of the test area contained a number of features of probable archaeological origin, including an industrial kiln, walls, ditches, metalled surfaces and a pit collectively referred to as Archaeological Area 1 (AA1). Given the proximity of the test area to the tower house DU020-003007 and the recovery of a number of medieval pottery sherds, it is reasonable to assume that most of the features identified date from the medieval period and are associated with the tower-house complex.
In the northern area of the site, the most prominent feature identified was a cereal-drying kiln (AA2). The linear field boundary ditches and cultivation furrows identified indicate the presence of a field system in this area. While some features produced some medieval pottery sherds the field system is thought to be post-medieval in date as pottery of that date and ceramic pipes were also identified.
A pit of probable archaeological significance was identified in the centre of the site with a possible associated linear ditch of unknown date (AA3).
In the eastern area, the only feature of archaeological significance identified was a large burnt mound spread (AA4).
c/o IAC Archaeology, Unit G1 Network Enterprise Park, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow
