Building in Carrickmines Great

Breen (2012, 67-74) recorded the following details about Structure B from Trenches TN and T11 at Carrickmines Castle (DU026-005001-); 'Structure B is the collective description for a series of features in the north-east corner of the south field in Trenches TN and T11. These appear to pre-date the medieval building in Trench N and thus the medieval horizontal mill [DU026-005004-] which was uncovered in Trench T10. Based on the stratigraphy alone, these features would appear to be the earliest existing in Trench TN and surrounding areas and could therefore be related both to the kiln [DU026-005007-], 20.00m to the south, and Structure A [DU026-005008-], at the south-western corner of the south field. Like Structure A, Structure B was partly comprised of ditches and gullies, and seemed to have been an undefended structure. Only the westernmost part of Structure B was excavated, as the feature continued north and east outside the limit of excavation. Because of this, any interpretations of the structure can only be based on a small percentage of its total extent. The largest feature, F233, was curvilinear in shape and functioned as the outermost boundary of an enclosure. Within this enclosure, a gully, F906, echoed the curve of F233. F906 in turn truncated a NE-SW oriented linear feature, F996. Also associated with this group of early features were one miscellaneous linear feature F901, a circular pit, F1100, and a large circular furnace F1025. Although F233 and F906 showed no evidence of a physical relationship, they do respect each other’s plan, and the distance between them was approximately 5.80m between them for most of their extent. All of these early features existed within the enclosing F233 and most of them also within F906, although F906 appears as a later sub-phase than F996. F1100 was situated close to the eastern baulk in Trench N and had been severely truncated by both F233 in the south and by a modern over-cut edge of the medieval moat, F498, resulting in only a quarter of the feature remaining intact. The southernmost edge of furnace F1025 also truncated F996, and although only a very small portion of F996 was destroyed it clearly shows that these two features belonged to two possibly separate sub-phases. In addition to these features already mentioned, one additional feature, situated between F906 and F233, was excavated. This feature, F969, was large and irregular in both shape and depth and had possibly been truncated in modern times. This feature contained one square block of modern concrete, which was uncovered in the south end, and four pieces of flint debitage and one possible flint scraper found in the top fill C2643. No other finds were associated with this feature. Phasing of Structure B The division of the features related to Structure B into sub-phases has proved extremely difficult to assess, mainly because some of the features do not share physical relationships. F1100 was unquestionably earlier than F233, however it is not clear whether F233 was earlier or later than F906. Even though F901 was situated firmly within the enclosing F906, they were clearly separated stratigraphically, as F901 truncated a layer that covered the top fill of F906. F996 and F1025 were both earlier than F906, but since F1025 truncated F996, these two also belonged to different sub-phases. The earliest features associated with Structure B could therefore be narrowed down to F996 and F1100. Subsequent to these, F1025, F906 and F233 were created, closely followed by F901. As the features are not contemporary, it is not possible to identify the shape of a structure, especially as part of any such structure would lie outside the excavated area. The most we can say is that various activities involving the digging of pits and trenches took place here at an early stage, probably contemporary with the kiln and Structure A. The curvilinear ditch F233, which seems to have enclosed the other features, certainly pre-dates the earliest phase of the medieval building situated immediately to the south. Similarities to Structure A The features related to Structure B were cut into the natural soil, which was mottled coarse sand with inclusions of finer sand, clay, silt, decayed stones and natural rocks and like Structure A the internal area (the area inside and east of F233) did not display any remains of human activity such as charcoal spreads. Neither were there any finds from outside the features already mentioned. Again, the features, as mentioned above, did not seem to be related to defensive structures such as the medieval moats F498 and F265/F75, but appeared to be simply domestic gullies and boundary enclosures. Although a quantity of medieval pottery (Leinster Cooking Ware and Dublin Type Ware) was found in the features, most of the bottom layers were sterile of finds. Some of these finds could have been intrusive, as features F906, F901 and F996 were severely truncated by post-medieval animal burials. The function of Structure B Because only a restricted part of Structure B could be excavated, it was not possible to assess the function. There may be more gullies and pits associated with the structure, and the further course of curvilinear features F906 and F233 to the north-west is unknown. Even taking into account later truncation, F906 clearly comes to an end to the end of F969, so it is not part of a continuous enclosure, whereas F233 could have formed a circular enclosure which would have included the site of the present farmhouse'. Breen, T. 2012 Report on the Findings of the Archaeological Excavations at Carrickmines, Co. Dublin - Carried out under licences 00E0525, 02E1532 and Ministerial Directions. M50 South-eastern Motorway Scheme 4 volumes. Prepared on behalf of V.J. Keely Ltd. for Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. See attached site plan showing location of Structure B and and plan, taken from excavation report under licence No. 00E0525, 02E1532, Breen 2012, Vol. 4. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 3 January 2023