County: Dublin Site name: Shrubs, Clonshough Business Park
Sites and Monuments Record No.: DU014-101 Licence number: 23E0401
Author: David McIlreavy and Maeve Tobin
Site type: Medieval burial ground
Period/Dating: Medieval (AD 400-AD 1600)
ITM: E 718580m, N 718580m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.204411, -6.224975
A rescue excavation was carried out in Shrubs townland in Dublin 17 to facilitate the construction of a permitted Data Centre development (‘DUB90’) at the Clonshaugh Business and Technology Park. Human remains were unexpectedly disturbed by construction contractors during the excavation of two trenches to accommodate infrastructure in the former greenfield portion of the permitted development area. It is likely that these burials relate to those discovered in the 1990s during the construction of the former Little Tykes Factory and recorded as file IA/174/90 and DU014-101, although a precise location for these is not known.
It is clear that the burial ground was also truncated historically, likely as a result of 18th/19th-century ground works associated with Shrubs House. Following consultation with the statutory authorities, and based on the results a construction-phase impact assessment, it was determined that the disturbed portion of the burial ground be fully excavated. The eastern margin of the site was preserved in situ beneath a pathway around the perimeter of site. A southern limit of the burial area was not identified by the current phase of works, and this may extend downslope to the River Santry.
Excavation revealed the remains of at least 68 west–east aligned graves roughly organised in north–south running rows. The graves largely comprised simple earth-cut features, although a single slab-lined example was recorded and cobble stone/timber lining was noted within a small number of other burials. The density of graves was high with frequent intercutting evident, and as such, while the excavation area was quite limited it is likely the original extent of the burial ground was substantial. Several anomalous burials were recorded, including the aforementioned stone-lined examples, but also several multiple occupancy graves with unusual burial artefacts.
Non-burial features were rare, but included a short section of a curving ditch, likely representing a boundary for the burial ground. A heavily truncated large pit or ditch terminus, containing sterile gravelly material, had been cut by at least two burials. In addition, a large sub-oval pit was recorded which truncated the foot of at least one grave. It contained charred material including a substantial quantity of cockle shells, and an unusual circular stone setting of debateable function.
A small quantity of artefacts was retrieved from burial contexts, including cut antler tine, polished boar tusk, a possible metal blade, stone manuports (quartz and red stones) and shell. Samples of soil, animal bone and shell were also retrieved from burials and the ditch which will be subject to specialist analysis.
Post-excavation work is ongoing, and preliminary osteological analyses have indicated the presence of at least one person who suffered from advanced leprosy. The presence of this disease indicates that the cemetery was active during the medieval period, although it may have had much earlier origins.
IAC Archaeology, Unit G1 Network Enterprise Park, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow
