Hut site in Phoenixtown

Situated in a gently undulating landscape. Archaeological testing (04E0926) by S. Keith (2005) at Testing Area 3 of Contract 4 of the M3 motorway identified archaeological material (excavations.ie 2004:1311) that was excavated (E003130) by E. Lyne (2010) as Phoenixtown 3 from November 2006 to March 2007 (excavations.ie 2007:1369). Two areas were opened, amounting to 5500 square metres in total. In Area B a large hut-site was uncovered. It is evidenced by a circle (diam. c. 10m) of 13 postholes spaced c. 1.5-2m apart and with an entrance porch (L 4m; Wth 2.5-3m) of four postholes, a stakehole and two pits (dims 1.02m x 0.55m; D 0.3m: dims 0.81m 0.46m; D 0.34m) that may have held posts at SE. The larger pit contained nine sherds of Middle Bronze Age domestic ware, and a sample of ash charcoal from the smaller returned a C14 date of 1503-1415 cal. BC (UBA 11112). The circle is composed of ten main posts and three lighter, probably interpolated, posts. Samples of ash and alder charcoal from two postholes returned dates of 1494-1392 cal. BC (UBA 11111) and 1436-1316 cal. BC (UBA 11113) respectively. Outside the circle of posts were arcs of drip-gullies or pits SE-S (Wth 0.56m; D 0.18m) and NE-ESE. The NE feature (Wth 0.6m; D 0.46m) had stones at the bottom and it had been re-cut (D 0.22m). Hazelnut shell charcoal from the bottom fill yielded a radiocarbon determination of 1435-1303 cal. BC (UBA 11114). Outside the circle of posts at NW were two postholes that were cut by a pit (dims 1.3m x 0.6m; D 0.18m). A large heart-shaped pit (dims 2.4m x 1.63m; D 0.2m), from which a small mortar or lamp was recovered, was in the inner part of the porch. On the inner side of this pit was a dense group of 40 stakeholes which, together with a small pit (dims 0.43m x 0.34m; D 0.04m), could have blocked access to the interior. The only other internal feature was a pit (dims 1.26m; x 0.6m; D 0.2m) inside the arc of posts at NE. Outside the porch, about 10m distant, was a linear trench (L 14.4m; Wth 2m; D 0.6m) filled with five layers of grey and yellow silty sands over two primary layers of grey sandy clay and black silty sand. It is interpreted as a refuse pit, although all of the almost 250 sherds of Middle Bronze Age domestic ware from the pit came from its top layer. This large pit cut a circular pit (diam. 1.22-1.25m; D 0.14m) and was cut by a rectangular pit (dims 2.1m x 1.4m; D 0.2m), but only the last produced almost 300 sherds of domestic ware. The pottery from these pits derived from at least seven vessels, and connections can be established with contexts in the hut-site. Four stakeholes, three postholes and a small pit around or on top of the large refuse pit may have had a role in relation to it. A sample of alder charcoal from the bottom of the large pit yielded a C14 date of 1607-1451 cal. BC (UBA 12941), while a sample of hazel charcoal from the top layer provided a date of 1515-1428 cal. BC (UBA 12111). The hut-site and all its appurtenances can be ascribed to the Middle Bronze Age through both the pottery and radiocarbon dating, and five pits (dims 0.54m x 0.46m; D 0.14m to 2.45m x 1.2m; D 0.12m) together with some postholes and stakeholes that cannot be directly related to the hut-site through stratigraphy probably belong in this milieu also, as a few flints and some appropriate sherds of pottery have been recovered from some of the pits. (Lyne 2010, 17-28) See the attached plan from Lyne (2010, fig. 8) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 23 March 2022