2025:590 - Regles SHD, Lusk, Dublin

Archaeological monitoring of the mechanical bulk excavation of the topsoil on site commenced in December 2023 and was completed 24 November 2025. Four  distinct archaeological sites were identified and excavated at the site comprising:

Area A, the slot trench of a possible small prehistoric structure/hut which was excavated under archaeological licence ref. 24E0108, yielded several lithics which were of a Neolithic (4000-2500BC) and Bronze Age (2500-500BC) date andalso produced an erroneous, modern radiocarbon date.

Area B, was a fulacht fiadh site which comprised a number of pits and a large well-like pit filled by heat-shattered stone and charcoal, which were excavated under licence ref. 24E0397. A radiocarbon date of 1626-1536 BC (1731-1517 BC cal.) was derived from a lower fill of the cistern pit (C.27), putting this site and its activity firmly in the Middle Bronze Age.

Area C was the site a double ring-ditch (ring barrow) with associated cremated human remains, which were excavated under licence ref. 24E0274. Specialist analysis on that archive is currently ongoing but fragments of several ceramic vessels of a Late Bronze Age date (1000-500BC) were recovered and a radiocarbon date of 772-568 BC (786-542 BC cal.) was derived from the same fill, dating the site to cusp of the Late Bronze Age/Iron Age.

Area D was the site of a single, penannular ring-ditch with two entrances, which was excavated by the author under licence ref. 24E0288. Specialist analysis on that archive is currently ongoing but fragments of several ceramic vessels of a Late Bronze Age date (1000-500BC) were uncovered and a Late Bronze Age radiocarbon date of 897-831 BC (926-809 BC cal.) was derived from the same fill.