County: Dublin Site name: SWORDS: New Rd.
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 95E0280
Author: Rónán Swan
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 717725m, N 745723m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.448424, -6.227679
Archaeological testing took place in Swords over a period of four days commencing on 4 December 1995. The testing was undertaken in accordance with the planning regulations for a residential/commercial development. The reason for the testing was that this property was adjacent to St Columba's Well. This well is one of the few surviving features of medieval Swords and none of the proposed development is to be located within 5m of it. In agreement with the Office of Public Works, a trenching programme was agreed upon which would fully test this site. The site itself was divided into three distinct areas, but a common stratigraphy was reflected in all trenches cut.
The results of the testing demonstrated that activity on the site has consisted of repeated dumping of infill to level the site and also of indiscriminate dumping of material by local traders.
No archaeological material was recovered in any of the trenches cut, but a series of springs were identified in the course of excavation which may have accounted for the area being unsuitable for previous occupation.
746 Howth Rd, Raheny, Dublin 5
