Introduction
In the summer of 2003 a hitherto unknown site containing skeletal material was disturbed during the construction of a temporary roadway within the townland of Oldtown, Swords, Co. Dublin. The subsequent assessment programmes and concurrent geophysical survey revealed an extensive ecclesiastical site.

The site is situated towards the end of a high north-south ridge (30m contour) adjacent to the Rathbeale road, the topography dropping steeply to the west and southwest to the plains of the Broadmeadow river. There are extensive views of the surrounding countryside in all directions with a view of the high lands of the Naul to the north and Lambay Island to the east. Despite its extensive nature there is a paucity of evidence for both the site and townland in which it is situated (It should not be confused with the Oldtown of the Parish of Clonmethan located a few miles to the east). Toponymically, Oldtown was applied to the townland at a later date, however no record of the original name survives (Placenames Commission pers comm.), although locally it is referred to as the ‘Bone field’. Nor is there any indication on cartographic sources or indeed in road layout. On early maps it appears to have been subsumed within the manor of Swords, established by the archbishops of Dublin Although Rocque’s map of 1760 depicts field division, it is more ordered, linear and on a different axis to than that illustrated by the geophysical survey.
No monument was recorded on the site at Oldtown. Mooretown, historically the site of Abbey of Glassmore (DU011-019) and St. Cronan’s well (DU011-018) is situated immediately south of the Rathbeale Road. St. Cronan purportedly founded a church on the site before the mid 7th century where he was eventually martyred. Surveys of the building date it to the post medieval period and archaeological assessment in the vicinity corrobrate this (Swan, 1999). In addition, historical sources refer to ‘Glassmore is a church near Swords on the south [sic]’ (Reeves 1860, 7). In the Martyrology of Oengus ‘Cronan son of Mellan of Glas Mor in the Desi of Munster or of Glas Mor a church that was beside Swords on the south.’ (Stokes 1905, 73). Approximately 600m to the east in the adjacent townland of Broadmeadow is a circular ditched feature (DU011-179) was recorded as a cropmark. It is described as having a diameter of c.28m with ditches radiating from the northwest and east (RMP Files). Intepreted as a levelled ringfort with associated field system it is located in a low-lying area south of the Broadmeadow River, which the ecclesiastical site overlooks.

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Site assessments
Two assessments were carried out at the site, the first to assess impact of the roadway, the second to try and relocate it.
The roadway extended for approximately 101.50m EW and from 15m to 20m NS. In line with the topography of the area the roadway rose steeply from the east to west and the depth of disturbance reflected this. It was dug to a maximum of 1m below present ground level rising to approximately 0.50m at the apex of the hill.
The nature and extent of associated archaeological features, was primarily identified, by the concurrent geophysical survey programme that was carried out beyond the area of the roadway. Surveyed by John Nicholls (Margaret Gowen and Company Ltd.) under licence (03R095) the area of archaeological activity extended for c.300m NS by 200m EW. It comprised at the northeastern limit of a large enclosure (A), 200m in diameter with an identifiable entranceway to the north. An inner enclosure (B) estimated as having a diameter of c.130m appears to contain a smaller enclosure (D), 70m in diameter. The roadway truncated these enclosures and the results of the assessment correlate with the geophysical survey results
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Enclosing elements
The probable intersection of enclosure D and enclosure B were identified on the ground, as Feature 1/4 and Feature 5. Feature 1 was a ditch exposed for approximately 8m. Cut into the subsoil it measured 1.70m in width and a section was hand excavated to a depth of 1.15m. It was not possible to bottom the ditch due to a constant influx of freshwater possibly from a spring. Features 4 (continuation of F1) and 5 were primarily identified in section at the northern limit of excavation. They were not discernible as separate entities indicating the intersection or bifurcation of the two features had taken place within the area of disturbance. In section the features measured 3.60m in width and were visible for 0.90m in depth.
Feature 6, located towards the eastern limit of the exposed area appears to correspond with enclosure A. Identified in section F6 measured 3.10m in width and was exposed for a depth of 1m.

Skeletal remains
The limit of skeletal material was defined by the enclosing elements and it may be inferred that enclosure D constitutes the burial ground of the site. One of the aims of the assessment was to ascertain the density and distribution of the skeletal material without unnecessary exposure of the remains. Within an area measuring 5m by 5m, a total of 10 skeletons were identified. Aligned east-west they were within clearly identifiable gravecuts. Several artefacts were recovered in association with the skeletal remains. A perforated stone bead (03E1080:1) was recovered from the clean back of Sk.1, a bone pin (03E1080:2) with Sk.8.
The wider bone retrieval strategy involved the division of the site into 20m grid squares and the systematic recovery of disarticulated bone not associated with in situ burials. In addition a comprehensive pick up of the skeletal material on the spoil heaps was undertaken. An analysis of the 4216 bone fragments collected (FARSG, U.C.D.) demonstrated that there are the remains of at least 20 individuals represented, 18 adults and 2 juveniles. Gender could only be definitively established in two cases, one a female, one a male. However the remains indicated a population between 152cm-166cm in height and living to between 30 and 59 years of age, the juveniles to between 7 and 12. The population displayed the hardship of the period, with worn and rotten teeth, indications of broken bones and nutritional deficiencies as well as abscesses, lesions and arthritis.

Outer enclosures
An enclosure network has extending from the northwest of the main complex was also recorded, and comprised adjacent sub rectangular anomalies (H-L) with possible pits located internally (Nicholls 2003, 1). Four trenches were positioned in order to gain the maximum information regarding these anomalies, their origin and relationship. The ground level within the area tested ranges from 28.234 O.D. to 26.046 O.D. in the north. Thirty features of probable archaeological derivation were identified. A total of 40% of these features were investigated to ascertain their nature and depth. These were substantial features varying in depth from 0.42m to 0.90m in depth and appear to constitute a field system associated with the ecclesiastic complex

Discussion
The layout of the site indicates an ecclesiastical enclosure, the pattern of which is familiar, fossilised as it is in the streetscapes of many towns and villages from the city of Armagh to Lusk, Co. Dublin.
The position of the burials and church at the centre both enclosures is an imposition of the idealised form which was the result of a reorganastion of church layout that began in the 7th century. Adomnán in his life of Columba recorded that there ‘ought to be two or three termini around a holy place; the first in which no one at all to enter except priests, because laymen do not come near it, nor women unless they are clerics; the second into its streets the crowds of common people, not much given to wickedness; the third in which men who have been guilty of homicide, adulterers and prostitutes, with permission and according to custom we do not prevent from going within’ (Doherty 1995, 59). The results of the skeletal remains do indicate the presence of not only men but women and children reinforcing the idea of the ecclesiastical site as centres of lay population.
The distinct radials at Oldtown between the second and outer enclosures are no doubt an extension of this schema, allowing for the division of for different uses or different elements within the population. In a canon dealing with the misdeeds of hens there appear to have been gardens and cultivated areas both within and outside the enclosure which ‘could be as high as a mans chin and which had a top of thorns’ (Doherty 1995, 59).
The layout of the accompanying enclosure systems at both sites not only respects the boundaries of the main complex but mirrors the radials or internal divisions of the main enclosures. Adomnán reports Columba being greeted at Clonmacnoise by those working in the agellulis monasterio vicinis ‘small fields near the monasteriu’, outside its vallum or ‘rampart’. There is also reference to Mac Nisse of Connor labouring with his monachi outside the monasterium while Mochoemoc cum fratibus sius laborabat in agro prope monasterium ‘used to work with his brothers in the field/estate near the monasterium’ (Etchingham 1999, 413).

Conclusions
Given the historical evidence it is likely that this site was laid out after the 7th century and remained in use for considerable periods. For instance the fragment of bone comb (03E1080:3:1) recovered from a ditch at Oldtown can be ascribed to Dunlevys Class F, datable from the 9th to 12th centuries (1988, 365) while the knives are typical of the Early Medieval period. At a time of proliferation of secular ringforts, political benefaction and faction fighting those that benefited from political protection or survived and flourished while other were destined to be forgotten or removed from the historical record and even folkloric memory. There is no doubt many more ecclesiastical enclosures of this nature awaiting discovery.

References
Doherty, C. 1985 in Clarke & Simms (ed) The comparative history of urban origin in non Roman Europe, B.A.R. 255
Dunlevy, M. 1988 A Classification of Early Irish Combs in PRIA Vol. 88C
Etchingham 1999, Church organisation in Ireland A.D.650 to 1000
Reeves W., 1860 A Lecture on the Antiquities of Swords
Stokes, W. 1905, The Martyrology of Oengus the Culdee
Swan, L. 1985 in Clarke & Simms (edt.) The comparative history if urban origin in non Roman Europe, B.A.R. 255