2023:587 - Grange Castle, Nangor, Dublin

Description

Archaeological test trenching was carried out within the footprint of a proposed development site located in the townlands of Grange and Nangor, Co. Dublin. The testing was carried out between 22–24 November 2024.

The test trenches were laid out to specifically target the geophysical anomalies discovered during a geophysical survey of the site under licence 05R032. Eighteen test trenches (T1–T18) totalling 500 linear metres were initially laid out across the footprint of the greenfield site. During archaeological testing an additional trench (T19) was excavated to try to ascertain the extent of features identified in Trench 8. Each trench measured 1.8m in width and the test trenches were excavated down to the natural subsoil.

While several of the anomalies identified in the geophysical survey turned out to be of geological origin, a total of 11 features were found including four burnt spreads, three pits, three ditches and one linear feature. All the features were located in the western half of the field and were identified in Trenches 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16 and 19. These features underwent a preliminary investigation to establish their nature and extent prior to being covered and subsequently backfilled.

The burnt spreads (C.4, C.7, C.16 and C.28), pits (C.6, C.9 and C.23) and the southern half of one of the ditches (C.15) were clustered together in the south-western area of the field and correlate to the geophysical anomalies highlighted in the survey. The pits ranged in size from 1.2m by 0.8m by 0.5m to 4.3m by 3.9m by 1.05m although all of the pits extended beyond the test trenches and the bases were not reached. Their shape in plan ranged from oval to sub-circular.

The burnt spreads ranged in size from 1.8m by 2.2m by 0.2m to 9.9m by 2m by 0.08m but as with the pits, extended beyond the test trenches so their full extent was not recorded.

The burnt spreads and pits at the site all contained burnt stones and charcoal and given their close proximity were probably associated. The pits and spreads may be the result of cooking activity at the site and are all probably prehistoric in date. The pits may represent troughs or boiling pits. Spreads or mounds of heat-shattered stone and charcoal-rich soil, sometimes accompanied by one or more troughs or boiling pits, are among the most common archaeological site type found in Ireland. Variously referred to as fulachtaí fia (singular fulacht fiadh), burnt mounds or burnt spreads, these classifications have sometimes been employed by archaeologists to reflect the presence or absence of a trough on excavated sites.

The Sites and Monuments Record (SMR) records 23 burnt mounds, two burnt spreads and 53 sites classified as ‘fulacht fia’ in Co. Dublin^[1] and the Database of Irish Excavation Reports records ten previous excavations of burnt mounds, three previous excavations of burnt spreads and 48 previous excavations of fulacht fia^[2].

A fulacht fiadh was recorded at the larger associated 33ha site to the east of the proposed development site during previous archaeological monitoring of development works at that site. Monitoring of topsoil-stripping within the site boundary in 2000 revealed the remains of a small fulacht fiadh (Doyle 2001; SMR No. DU017-084----; see Figure 3). This consisted of a small pit or trough, a spread of heat-cracked stone and a linear feature to the southwest of the trough.

While the pits and burnt spreads discovered at the subject site are most probably prehistoric in date, the date of the ditches (and linear feature) are more uncertain. No artefacts were recovered from ditch C.26, although the ditch fills did produce moderate amounts of charcoal as well as burnt and unburnt bone.

While a fragment of modern pottery was retrieved from fill C.10 of ditch C.11 in Trench T16, and occasional burnt stones were noted in ditch C.15 and linear feature C.30, all were located near the surface of the features and may be residual inclusions.

The results of archaeological testing have revealed four burnt spreads, three pits, three ditches and one linear feature in the western half of the site. An archaeological monitoring recommendation is proposed for the construction stage of the proposed development to ensure these identified archaeological features and other potential unidentified features remain in situ and undisturbed by the development.

References:

Doyle, I. 2001. A Prehistoric Ring-Barrow in Kilmahuddirck, Co. Dublin. Archaeology Ireland, Vol. 15, No. 4 (Winter, 2001), pp.16–19.

Online Sources:

Database of Irish Excavations Report. Excavations.ie. [Online]. Available from: https://excavations.ie/ [Accessed: May 02 2024].

Sites and Monuments Record. Archaeology.ie. [Online]. Available from http://www.archaeology.ie [Accessed: 02 May 2024]

[1] http://www.archaeology.ie [Accessed: 02 May 2024]

[2] https://excavations.ie/ [Accessed: 02 May 2024]

16A Greentrees Drive, Perrystown, Dublin 12