Habitation site 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. The full extent of the western plots (4-6) could not be assessed as their N ends continued beneath Station Road. For this reason it is also likely that any buildings, which are located towards the north of the tofts in the adjacent plots, are also located beyond the N limit of the excavation. Plot 4 (15m wide x 55m) was defined by a series of shallow ditches, separated into toft and croft areas. A well pit (5.4m x 3m x 2m deep) was located towards the front of the toft. The waterlogged basal fill contained grass, twigs, leather shoe fragments and part of a wooden bowl. A hazel twig was radiocarbon dated to AD 1491-1642. The toft of Plot 5 (21m wide x 48m) was dominated by large terraced yard area (16m x 12m) while the croft contained a scatter of pits and large metalled laneway (5m wide) to the rear. The toft of the westernmost Plot 6 (22m wide x 38m) contained a metal surface, gullies, and pits while the croft contained the partial remains of the metalled laneway (Moriarty 2009, 50). Radiocarbon analysis suggests the main occupation of the settlement was in the 16th – 17th century (Moriarty 2009). Compiled by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 6 February 2015