Building in Carrickmines Great

Breen (2012, 88-101) recorded the following details about Structure C from Trench N at Carrickmines Castle (DU026-005001-); 'When an extensive layer of re-deposited natural (C260) was removed from Trench N, two medieval buildings overlying one another were uncovered and identified. Both of these had been truncated in the south-eastern end by the South-western Enclosure (F75/F265) and hence pre-dated this early defensive phase of Carrickmines Castle. These houses are likely to have been approximately contemporary with the horizontal mill [DU026-005004-] located in Trench 10, and perhaps associated with it. The later building structure was delineated by a crude, rectangular foundation of large granite boulders, which incorporated a semi-circular shaped boulder platform in the east, some scattered boulders and internal cluster of boulders it appeared as a foundation divided into two rooms (Room A and Room B). No additional features appeared to be associated with this structure and apart from a large spread of finds-rich soil (C279), which covered parts of the structure, only a few other spreads (such as C277, C280 and C533) could definitely be linked with it. Two postholes (F741 and F865) set into re-deposited natural (C2727), were situated in the SE of the structure. However, because C279 overlay the destruction layer of these features, they are more likely to be of earlier date. Also, approximately 5.50m north of F171 a hearth (F218) was situated. Although spreads from this hearth proved to cover some of the backfill layers of gully F869 of the earlier building (Structure C), it is not certain which of the two buildings it is related to. The evidence of the earlier building (Structure C), which the stone foundation (F171) succeeded, consisted of a raised floor surface of re-deposited natural (C3190) with external gullies (F869 and F712) on the western, southern and eastern flanks, and three shallow furnaces (F463, F237 and F1162) with a large number of stake holes surrounding them. Within the western gully (F869), a smooth cobbled surface (F894) with a step feature (F944) was identified and in the southwest, slightly truncating F869, a large pit containing a hearth was uncovered (F1184). Structure C post-dated Structure B, situated immediately to the west and interpreted as belonging to the first phase of medieval occupation of Carrickmines. It is likely that vestiges of the enclosing ditch F233 were visible as a slight depression at the time when the raised floor surface was created. The evidence for this consisted in the fact that the floor surface only extended as far north as the edge of F233 and as well as this, the eastern gully (F712) seemed to partially have used the same course as F233 for draining of surface water. Structure C appears to have been contemporary with Structure D [DU026-005011-] in Trench 11 approximately 5m to the north-west. In both cases the gullies had largely filled up when they were truncated by drain F257, and both features appear to have truncated or overlain features associated with Structure B (i.e. F233). The three features F463, F237 and F1162 dug into the raised floor surface of Structure C were all shallow pits which contained large quantities of charcoal-rich soil and associated spreads. They resembled hearth pits, but it seems more likely that they were the base bowls of some type of furnace or oven-type features. The bases of all of these features were covered in red/orange oxidised soil which indicates in-situ burning at a high temperature. This phenomenon may occur in hearths but these features are small, and their bowl-like shapes are unlike hearths. A hearth is more likely to have been a single, larger, flat structure, similar to the external hearth (F218) situated approximately 5.5m north of Structure C. The 36 stake-holes which surrounded the three features suggest that some type of structure of post and wattle was present, perhaps forming the superstructure of each of the features. A quantity of carbonised wheat was found in the fill of F463, and smaller quantities of rye and cereal chaff was found in all three features. This suggests that they were some kind of corn-drying kilns. F869 and F712 clearly defined the perimeters of Structure C. Because of their shallow depth and extensive width (over 1m in most places except for in the SW where F1184 truncated the gully), and the fact that F869 contained a paved surface (F894) and a step feature (F944), they were initially not thought to have been footing trenches for the walls of the structure. If F869 and F712 were indeed the foundation trenches of Structure C, it suggests that Structure C was open at one end— a structure with only three walls on the eastern, southern and western sides and an open northern end. Taken with the furnace-like features, this suggests that Structure C was an industrial building. It could have been ancillary to Structure D, which is more likely to have been a domestic building'. 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 C 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