2023:281 - Station Road, Lusk, Dublin

An archaeological assessment was carried out for a proposed development site at Station Road, Lusk, Co. Dublin. Archaeological test excavation of three trenches measuring a total of 55 linear metres (110 sq. m) was undertaken on 25 October 2023 in wet conditions.

Topsoil comprised dark brown friable clayey silt with occasional modern inclusions. It varied in depth across the site reaching a maximum of 0.3m deep in Trench 1. It rests directly on top of a dark brown, moderately compact clayey silt B Horizon layer measuring a maximum depth of 0.8m to the north of Trench 2. This layer in turn rested on top of a compact, grey-brown, clayey silt subsoil.

A back filled modern well was recorded in the east section of Trench 2 at a depth of 0.7m. The exposed section measured c.2.5m wide x 0.5m deep. The backfill comprised a waterlogged, dark brown clayey silt. Across Trench 2 the subsoil depth varied from 0.8-1.4m with similar fills to Trench 1.

Trench 3 also contained the same layers as Trench 1. The Trench measured, on average, 0.9m deep. It required the north of the trench to be shortened by c. 5m as a result of a foul line leading from the house to a septic tank to the west of the garden.

Nothing of archaeological significance was recorded during the course of the works.