Earthwork in Maynetown

Situated in grassland, on low-lying floodplain immediately N of the Mayne River. Extensive area of earthworks identified from Google Earth imagery, in the townland of Maynetown (An Mhaighean/Moyne) immediately north of the confluence of the Mayne River and the stream running from the south from Seagrange Park through the former Baldoyle Racecourse. These earthworks may represent a previously unrecorded longphort site potentially relating to ‘Port Manann’ recorded in the Fragmentary Annals of Ireland s.a. 866 (Downham 2008, 62). Air Corps aerial image (1932 IE-MA-ACVN-P2-V7) taken 1932, shows extensive earthworks in the area lying between the river and the Moyne Road to the north. While no. 1, a large square enclosure parallel to the river is suggested (c.116m NW-SE X c.138m NE-SW) the most evident feature is no. 2., a D-shaped rise defined by a broad ditch (c. 50m NE-SW X c. 45m NW-SE). Immediately west of this D-shaped enclosure and seemingly occupying part of the same rise is no. 3, a sub-square enclosure divided from no. 1 by a large ditch. To the west of no. 3, divided from it by a broad ditch/channel is no. 4, a deep oval hollow (c.25m NE-SW X c.7m NW-SE). In addition to the larger enclosures, an extensive pattern of ridge and furrow ‘lazybeds’ are visible cutting across the earthworks. The pattern of the last beds cuts across the banks and is somewhat defined by the extant ditches. Within the area enclosed by no. 1, the lazybeds run northwest-southeast (ie parrallel to the enclosing elements) while within the southern enclosures, the lazybeds run northeast-southwest (ie parallel to the enclosing elements). Some irregular shaped depressions are visible and these might be the result of gravel/sand quarrying. Quite extensive quarrying of the ridge to the east of no. 1 can be seen to have occurred since 1932. The earliest historic mapping of the area in the mid-17th century shows a house at roughly the location of the earthworks. The position at the head of the ‘Moyne’ River might suggest this was a mill, no millwheel is depicted, whereas the tidal mill at Portmarnock to the north is shown. In Rocque’s mid-18th century map, a clear embankment defining a D-shaped area is visible. Two buildings are also depicted on the site. The eastern of these buildings is possibly the same structure as that shown on the Down Survey map. The western house is shown with two small enclosures to north and west and possibly a small area of planting on scrub to the west. The location of the earthworks at the head of the Maine River, an area prone to flooding and the presence of probable paleo-channels, landscaping scars from the Baldoyle Racecourse and the quarrying of sand and gravel in the area into the 20th century all serve to explain why the Maine River earthworks have gone unremarked upon in an archaeological context. However, analysis of the aerial photography has shown that, while some of the features, particularly to the east of the primary enclosure (No. 2) can be attributed to 20th century quarrying, the overall complex is clearly older than the ridge and furrow farming that pre-dates the 1930s and is likely to be 19th century in date. These lazybeds post-date the two buildings shown on the site in the 1760s. It is proposed that the nature of the earthworks at Maynetown cannot be easily attributed to agricultural activity or paleo channels or historic quarrying. Neither are the ditches in evidence consistent with 18th century landscaping or house building, though some of the features visible may relate to these activities. It is more likely that the earthworks visible at Maynetown relate to large scale medieval activity, distinct from the early medieval activity of Gaelic Irish character further north. In the context of the strong Scandinavian placename evidence in the immediate surrounds, it is proposed that these earthworks represent the remnants of a longport. The Maynetown site corresponds to these criteria as the flood mapping and local topography of the site suggest a former large pool immediately south of the site. In reviewing Kelly’s plans, the Maynetown earthworks appear to correspond to some of these purported longphort sites which comprise larger outer enclosures of various shapes and more defined ‘strongholds’ within. The earthworks of Rathmore, Co. Kerry are also of interest given that this purported longport also fronts a river called Maine. Given the evidence presented above, it is worth considering that the feature identified as No. 4 above is not a gravel pit but rather a naust. This feature appears more regular in shape than most of the other gravel pits shown in the historic mapping or aerial photography. It is oval in shape and opens onto a ditch/channel which would have connected to the river/pool c. 30m to the south. Its dimensions (25m x 7m) are a very close match to that of the Danish examples (25m x 6m) and compares well with the size of the ship Skuldelev 2 (28m x 4.5m). Downham, C. 2008 Tomrar’s death at Port Manann: a possible longphort site in Ireland. Ainm, 9, 57–64. Duffy, P. 2016 The church of Bearach, the grange of Baldoyle and the town of the dark stranger. In Seán Duffy (ed) Medieval Dublin XV, (Dublin). McLoughlin, G., Maynetown, Dublin Excavations Bulletin No. 2022:255, Licence No. 22E050. Conaghan, P. Hayes, T. 2021, Environmental Impact Assessment Screening Report for Racecourse Park, Baldoyle, Co. Dublin (Unpublished report prepared for Fingal County Council). See attached labelled air corps aerial image and ground photographs provided courtesy of Paul Duffy Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Paul Duffy Date of upload: 31 May 2023