County: Dublin Site name: CADBURY IRELAND PLC, Malahide Rd., Coolock
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 94E0044
Author: Margaret Gowen
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 720025m, N 739425m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.391329, -6.195477
The archaeological site which gave rise to this assessment is a mound situated within the grounds on the site, close to the entrance gateway. It lies some 60m from the external wall of the existing building and 36m from the proposed external wall of a proposed extension to it.
The archaeological monument is a well-defined, grass-covered mound, 20m in diameter and over 3m high. It has not been dated, nor has its function been established. However, given its small size, its regular shape and its height it may date to either the Neolithic period or to the Bronze Age and is likely to contain burials. It is too small to be a defensive Norman motte.
On a site of this kind, ancillary activity around the mound might be expected. Accordingly, an archaeological assessment took place in response to a request for additional information, from the Planning Authority, on the nature, extent and location of archaeological material on the site.
The assessment was based on the examination of one short and two long, bucket-width, slit trenches which were opened along the east-west axis of the building, on its northern side, so that all aspects of the new development would be tested; i.e. a significant portion of the footprint of the proposed new extension which lies some 36-60m from the mound, the new roadway that will be built to the east of the new extension, some 25m from the mound, and a 5m-wide landscaping zone to the east of the new roadway where it is hoped to plant trees.
After mechanical removal of topsoil and a slightly disturbed 'B' soil, the surface was trowelled back in places. No archaeological alteration of the subsoil was noted. In general, topsoil was 350–400mm deep with a further 100–150mm of slightly disturbed (cultivated/rotovated?) soil beneath it. Occasional (rare) flecks of charcoal were noted in this soil and one small fragment of oyster shell was recovered. Subsoil was a pale yellow-brown silty, stony boulder clay.
No archaeological soils, features, or artifacts were revealed in the trenches opened, and on the basis of these results it was decided that no further trenching was required as the construction of the proposed extension should not expose, damage or destroy any archaeological material relating to the mound.
Rath House, Ferndale Rd, Rathmichael, Co. Dublin
