Structure in Portmarnock

An extensive later medieval settlement (c. 50-70m NS x 110m), containing six well-defined property plots, was excavated at Station Road, Portmarnock (Licence no. 08E0376). The six plots were defined by linear ditches and were separated into toft and croft areas by internal divisions. This structure was identified within Plot 1 which was defined by a series of shallow inter-cutting ditches (16m - 17m E-W x 64m). The north of the plot contained the truncated remains of a structure with a metalled yard, well and rubbish pits to the rear. The structure (15m E-W) was defined by a stone wall which had been largely robbed-out in the 17th century. Evidence for a doorway (c. 2.1m wide) survived along the southern wall, while internally the building contained a packed clay floor, the remains of a hearth and the foundations for an internal division A large assemblage of artefacts was recovered during the excavation, including in excess of 2,000 sherds of medieval pottery, mainly locally produced Leinster cooking ware and Dublin-type wares, as well as large numbers of metal objects (3,001). Evidence for food waste included substantial amounts of butchered animal bone as well as quantities of seashell (cockles, muscles, oysters, periwinkles, razor shell, etc.) and carbonised grains. Radiocarbon analysis (AD 1491-1642) suggests the main occupation of the settlement was 16th – 17th century (Moriarty 2009). Compiled by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 6 February 2015