2024:463 - Kiltiernan Domain, Dublin

Excavations at Kiltiernan Domain, Co. Dublin continued in 2024. Phase 1 of the works were reported on in 2022. Phase 2 and the initial part of Phase 3 were reported on in 2023.

Early Neolithic house

The excavations for Phase 3 continued until February 2024. The excavations uncovered a sub-rectangular Early Neolithic house (Structure 2), which measured c. 5.8-6.2m by 4.4m, with an internal area of c. 26.4m². This is at the lowest end of the scale for these structures (Smyth 2014, 27). The structure was oriented just off north-south and was situated at the base of a ridge rising to the west. It had good views to the east and north towards the coast and over the Liffey plain. The house was located c. 500m from the portal tomb at Kiltiernan (DU026-019---), though the two were not intervisible.

External structure

The structure was defined by deep slot trenches to the east and west, with shallower and slightly bowed sides on the north and south gables. There was no obvious causeway left for an entrance. Three phases of construction were identifiable. Four postholes were present along the north and south gables at any one time, with the corner postholes being repositioned slightly outwards in the latest phase of the house. One posthole was identified along the west side in the initial two phases, with a second added in the latest phase. Two postholes were identified along the eastern side of the house, which appeared to have gone out of use by the final iteration of the structure. These appear to relate to the original entrance location, which may have switched to the western side in the final phase of the house.

Internal structure and layout

Eight substantial internal postholes were identified, five of which were associated with recuts. Three of the internal postholes were aligned with the eastern postholes in the north and south gable, with another three aligned with the western postholes. An additional posthole was a replacement for one of the two northern postholes to the east and was slightly out of alignment. The final large posthole was to the west and was in line with the two northern internal postholes. The postholes were identified in the southern two-thirds of the house, dividing the southern end of the house into three. The northern third was undivided.

A number of shallow internal slot trenches were also identified in the southern portion of the house. The earliest of these was a short section of slot trench defining a space measuring 1.5m by 1.1m centrally placed along the internal south gable wall. A number of stake-holes were uncovered between the slot trench and the gable wall that may have been related. This feature may relate a free-standing screen, or possibly a raised bed, seating, or storage area. In this phase the remainder of the house was only divided by the internal postholes.

This was replaced by a perpendicular slot trench that divided the southern end of the house lengthways into two spaces. A number of stake-holes were identified along the slot trench indicating it represented an upright internal wattle wall. There was no surviving indication that the wall connected with the southern gable. A short section of poorly surviving slot trench to the east connecting the northernmost internal post with the southern posthole of the doorway may date to this phase, screening the southern portion of the house from those entering.

A third internal arrangement was identified which saw more sub-division of the southern interior. Two parallel slot trenches were identified running lengthways through the southern part of the house. Both connected to and were contemporary with the final phase of the southern gable. The slot trenches were located beside the internal postholes. A perpendicular slot trench was identified for the full width of the house just south of the two southern internal postholes. Two short parallel sections of slot trench were identified further to the north in line with the northernmost internal postholes. The internal slot trenches in this phase created five small spaces along the external walls of the house to the south, surrounding the hearth. These could have been suitable for storage, separate sleeping areas, or for animals. The northern end of the house remained undivided during this phase.

The scorched base of a hearth was identified in a relatively central position within the house as an oval patch of scorched natural. The location of the hearth was slightly raised compared with the ground levels to the east and west, perhaps as the floor surface elsewhere was eroded down slightly over time through foot traffic.

There was no indication that the structure had been burnt in situ, which is a frequent occurrence at these structures. There was evidence of localised burning, with two postholes and one 0.17m section of external slot trench exhibiting scorching. In both the postholes the fills did not appear represent the remains of burnt structural elements.

Associated structure

A post-built structure (Structure 3) representing a fenced area was identified directly north of the house and was in line with the east and west walls of the house. It measured 3-4m north-south and c. 4.4m in width. It may represent an animal pen, or a fenced-off garden plot. The positioning of Structure 3 in line with the main house (Structure 2), emphasising a linear layout has been seen at other Early Neolithic house sites, such as Ballygalley 1, Co. Antrim, Haggardstown, Co. Louth and Corbally 2, Co. Kildare (Smyth 2014, 33).

Features in the immediate vicinity of the house

To the northwest of the house an oval stone-lined external hearth was excavated. A short section of curvilinear slot trench interpreted as a windbreak was identified to the southwest of the hearth. A number of large linear pits were identified in line with and west of the external hearth. Some of the deposits within these pits contained charcoal-rich material, sherds of ceramic and lithics, possibly from waste deposits, though the initial function of the pits was unclear. The larger pits were spatially organised and aligned on the house.

A number of additional features cutting and cut by the pits indicate the area to the northwest of the house was well-used by those living at the house. Additional small pits were identified to the south of the house, also indicative of activity, though, less definable. No contemporary features were identified along the eastern and western sides of the house.

Intercutting pits and structure

Approximately 16m to the northwest a cluster of deep, steep-sided intercutting pits was excavated. Early Neolithic ceramics were retrieved from the fills of the pits along with occasional charcoal and lithics. A small stake-built structure (Structure 4) was identified c. 1m from the intercutting pits. The pits and structure were downwind and downhill from the house, suggesting a specific activity was taking place here that needed to be separated from the day-to-day part of the settlement. These pits may represent latrine pits with the nearby structure being similar to an outhouse. Further analysis of the soil samples from these features may help prove this interpretation.

Termination deposits

A number of termination deposits were identified associated with the Kiltiernan house. A fragment of broken porcellanite axe-head was retrieved from the base of a terminus of the western external wall, with a large granite stone placed over it. Both were deposited into the slot trench after the removal of the walling as a termination deposit.

One of the eastern internal postholes was clearly burnt at some point. The posthole was adjacent to the hearth and the burning may have been accidental, or have been an intentional act. The charcoal-rich fill was not the remains of the charred post and had frequent inclusions of ceramics, fragments of probable polished stone axe-head and lithics suggesting the post was removed and the posthole filled with a deposit, possibly as a structured, symbolic act. Structured deposition within components of Early Neolithic houses has been noted elsewhere in the country, and Smyth (2014, 58) records this type of deposition from at least twenty other Early Neolithic house sites.

Several large stones were identified at the top of backfilled postholes in the interior and along the lines of the walls of the house. A number of stones were also inserted upright into the external slot trenches. These deposits would require the upstanding elements to be removed, and the features infilled prior to the placement of the large stones, suggesting the house was dismantled prior to the deposition.

A large boulder was deposited in a shallow pit over and cut into the intercutting possible latrine pits also, which must have occurred after the pits had been infilled and gone out of use.

Artefacts

A large volume of ceramic was retrieved from the fills associated with the house, particularly with the structural elements. Numerous flint artefacts were retrieved also, including scrapers, blades, arrowheads, flakes, and cores. Debitage was also retrieved implying flint knapping was taking place on the site. Several quartz artefacts were retrieved along with a number of coarse stone tools. Fragments of stone axe-head were also retrieved, with both porcellanite and porphyritic stone represented.

Other prehistoric features

Another small figure-of-eight shaped kiln was excavated in a more isolated location to the northwest. It had two chambers and a short section of flue leading to the firing chamber. The drying chamber may originally have been stone-lined, however the stones were no longer in situ. A sherd of prehistoric ceramic was also retrieved from the fill. The interpretation as a kiln is based on the form of the feature, however the fill was not typical of a kiln, and it is also possible the feature represents an earth oven or roasting pit.

At the southern end of the site a processing pit with a metalled base was uncovered, which had a sloping access on one side. A complete upturned saddle quern was identified at one end of the pit. Stake-holes were identified at the base of the pit on either side mid-way along its length. These may relate to a light rack, or possibly a lightweight covering or roof. The presence of the quern stone implies the processing area related to cereal processing. A scorched area to one side of the processing pit marked the truncated remains of a feature associated with burning, possibly a kiln.

Two large oblong intercutting pits were identified in the centre of the site, neither of which were associated with dateable artefacts. The earlier pit had light scorching visible on the base to the northwest. A short deeper cut was identified in the base of the pit connecting to the scorched area, the remains of a flue. The flue had evidence of a clay lining used to narrow it and control airflow. A second similarly proportioned pit truncated the earlier pit close to the firing location. The pit was similarly amorphous and large, and scorching was again noted on the base to the west. There was no indication of a flue. The fills of the pits were not indicative of a kiln. Their amorphous shape and generous size hamper interpretation, however the scorching and flue associated with the earlier example suggest they may represent kilns of uncertain date. It is possible the kilns were shaped within the large cuts for each firing.

A cluster of fifteen stake-holes were identified c. 40m to the west of the Early Neolithic house. There were all similar in size and shape to one another and were all largely located within a 1m by 0.6m space. They did not have a clear layout, though an approximate sub-rectangular shape could be suggested. They were sealed by a spread of burnt stone and charcoal that contained sherds of prehistoric ceramic. A large processing pit with a metalled base was the only feature identified near the cluster. A large, isolated posthole, which had been burnt in situ, was excavated between the posthole cluster and the house.

Final monitoring

The Phase 4 lands were assessed in early March 2024. This part of the development to the northwest has been severely impacted by previous ground level reduction associated with the establishment of a compound in the northern end of the area by 2017 for the adjacent Bishops Gate development, which was expanded in 2018. When the area was assessed, it was found that the area had been stripped previously and a substantial portion of it reduced below the top of the subsoil. Other parts had been severely impacted by construction traffic. No additional archaeology was identified in this area.

 

Reference

Smyth, J. 2014 Settlement in the Irish Neolithic: new discoveries at the edge of Europe, Prehistoric Society Research Paper 6. Oxbow Books, Oxford.