Settlement deserted — medieval in Portmarnock

A residential development has been completed where the monument stood. Nothing remains. Entirely removed by excavation under licence 18E0016 in advance of development. The area came to light in 2016 during archaeological monitoring for an attenuation pond associated with the previous phase of development (Phase 1A, 16E0101) and appeared to be an easterly continuation of the late medieval village excavated by Moriarty in 2008 (08E0376, DU015-0136001/006-) (Area 5a). At that time the remains were covered with terram and backfilled pending further information on the development plans for that area. Further testing carried out in May 2018 to the west and south of the previous excavation area identified further features thought to represent a westerly continuation of this activity (Area 5b). The site was fully excavated under licence 18E0016 and nothing now remains. Planning ref. ABP 300514-17. The results of this excavation were summarised by Gill McLoughlin as follows; 'In Area 5A (figure 1, ITM 723355E/742445N) the archaeological remains comprised north-south linear ditches and intermittent east – west ditches broadly consistent with the pattern of ditches identified in the previous excavation area (Moriarty 08E0376). Other features included an area of metalling suggestive of a yard area and three well pits. Remnants of a stone structure in the south of the site were defined by an L-shaped foundation with a keyhole shaped oven set into the wall. Charred cereal from a founding deposit in the structure returned a date range of 1275-1386 AD, placing the initial construction between the late 13th – late 14th Century and a lower fill of the main north-south linear ditch returned a date range of 1420-1454 AD. A large quantity of medieval pottery, mostly Dublin-type and Leinster Cooking Ware was recovered from this area, along with a large assemblage of plough pebbles and moderate quantities of animal bone. Processing of soil samples from selected features also yielded charred cereals. In Area 5B (Figure 1, ITM 723190E/742450N) three early modern north-south linear ditches were identified along with a number of smaller linear features, gullies and pits. The majority of these features were early modern in date however a small number of them may have been related to the previously excavated later medieval settlement to the east. Area 5C (Maynetown townland, ITM 723424E/742250N) was previously identified by geophysical anomalies and verified by test excavation (Phelan 2004, licence Ref 04E1415). The site which subsequently formed part of the Phase 1B development lands was archaeologically excavated under licence 18E0016 and revealed a burnt mound trough dated to the early Bronze Age (2135-1920 BC). The main focus of the 2018 excavation (18E0016) revealed a continuation of the medieval village excavated in 2008 which uncovered six well defined property plots with associated yard areas and wells (Moriarty 2009). Moriarty concluded that the main occupation of the village dated to the 16th–17th Century and the 2018 excavation has added to the archaeological record in a number of key areas, most notably the dating of the structure in the south of the area to the 13th Century and the main north-south ditch to the early 15th Century. The recovery of the assemblage of plough pebbles from this area is also significant in terms of dating and because their presence indicates a different use for the eastern area of the village after the initial phase of activity associated with the structure. The dating and plough pebble evidence suggest that the settlement may have begun in the east in the 13th Century and extended west over time' (McLoughlin 2020). See attached photographs and plan of site courtesy of and © Gill McLoughlin of Courtney Deery Heritage Consultancy Ltd. Moriarty, C. 2009 Final Report Archaeological Excavations at Portmarnock, Co. Dublin (Licence No.: 08E0376). Unpublished report prepared by Margaret Gowen and Co. Ltd for Ballymore Residential Ltd. McLoughlin, G. 2020 Final Archaeological Excavation Report, Station Road, Portmarnock, 18E0016. Unpublished archaeological report submitted by Courtney Deery Heritage Consultancy Ltd. to the National Monuments Service on behalf of Sherman Oaks Ltd. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Gill McLoughlin of Courtney Deery Heritage Consultancy Ltd. Date of upload: 20 June 2023