County: Dublin Site name: Milltown
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 22E0306
Author: Niall O'Hora
Site type: Pits and post-holes
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 702183m, N 731077m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.320084, -6.466305
This summary outlines results of archaeological testing, monitoring of Geotechnical Site Investigations (GSI) and an archaeological excavation carried out within the footprint of a proposed development site located in the townland of Milltown, Peamount Road, Newcastle, Co. Dublin. The testing was carried out by Colum Hardy between 23 May and 03 June 2022. The license was then transferred to Niall O’Hora in July 2022 and the archaeological excavation was carried out by him between 28 July and 10 August 2022.
A geophysical survey was undertaken at the proposed development site by Target Archaeological Geophysics in 2019 (Nicholls 2019; Licence Number 19R0190). The investigations, comprising high resolution magnetic gradiometry, identified a series of potential archaeological features within four different areas of the site. On testing, the majority of these anomalies turned out to be of geological or modern origin. However, three Archaeological Areas (AA1, AA2 & AA3) were identified.
Testing consisted of a combination of targeted and random trenching comprising a minimum of 10% of the total site area. This consisted of 105 test trenches totalling 4,097 linear metres.
Following the archaeological testing it was recommended that these three Archaeological Areas be excavated prior to any commencement of construction on site. The original Method Statement was amended (and approved by NMS) to extend the testing licence to allow for the excavation of these three areas and the excavation was carried out between 28 July and 10 August 2022.
Archaeological Area 1 (AA1)
The feature identified in testing in AA1 transpired to be modern a dump of burnt material including some fragments of rubber and iron nails.
Archaeological Area 2 (AA2)
The excavation of AA2 revealed six archaeological pits and three post-holes. The pits ranged in size from small to medium with dimensions varying from 0.68m x 0.4m x 0.12m to 1.41m x 0.56m x 0.15m to 2.48m x 0.53m x 0.42m. Several of the pits contained similar fills comprising mixed deposits of ash, charcoal and occasional burnt material and would appear to represent refuse pits to dump burnt material.
Only one of the pits (C.21) produced finds which included two pieces of worked chert and a fragment of flint debitage, possibly giving a prehistoric date to the pit.
Three post-holes (C.12, C.17, and C.38) were also excavated in AA2. The post-holes ranged in size from 0.22m x 0.2m x 0.12m to 0.32m x 0.28m x 0.36m. Post-hole C.17 contained frequent burnt clay and occasional charcoal while post-hole C.38 contained occasional charcoal and a fragment of burnt stone. The post-holes were relatively spaced out and do not appear to represent an obvious structure although they were possibly originally part of a structure .
The pits in AA2 appear to be refuse pits used to dump material and may represent peripheral activity from a nearby settlement. Although the post-holes do not indicate a substantial structure they may be the remains of a light temporary structure used over a short period of time.
Archaeological Area 3 (AA3)
The excavation of AA3 revealed two shallow pits, one (C.9) of which was slag-rich and yielded a fragment of tuyere pipe, indicating a possible Iron Age/early medieval date. The pit measured 1.55m x 0.56m x 0.32m and contained two fills. The second pit (C.41) measured 0.92m x 0.88m x 0.1m and also contained two fills, the upper of which included frequent charcoal flecks. Both pits would appear to be refuse pits with the slag material in pit C.9 possibly relating to smelting activity.
In the absence of absolute dating, given the nature of the site types and the finds, it would not be unreasonable to suggest a prehistoric date for AA2 and a prehistoric or possible early medieval date for AA3.
Preliminary post-excavation analysis has commenced, and it is anticipated that this analysis, including radiocarbon dating and comparative research, will further enhance our understanding of the sites.
A programme of archaeological monitoring was also undertaken in respect to advance GSI works, where nothing of archaeological significance was recorded. A further phase of archaeological monitoring will take place across the rest of the site when construction works begin at a later date that is yet to be confirmed.
Archaeological Management Solutions (AMS), Fahy’s Road, Kilrush, Co. Clare
