County: Dublin Site name: FINGLAS EAST: Jamestown Road
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 96E0099
Author: Tim Coughlan for Margaret Gowen and Co. Ltd.
Site type: Habitation site
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 713226m, N 739225m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.391034, -6.297711
An archaeological assessment was carried out on the site of a proposed development on the west side of Jamestown Road (opposite the ‘Finglas Main Centre’), Finglas, Dublin. The site lies at the north-east of Finglas village and just outside the zone of archaeological potential outlined in the SMR Records of the Office of Public Works. The assessment was based on the investigation of three test-trenches opened on 8 May 1996. The site of the proposed development measures 38m by 15m.
Two features of interest were recorded. One was a pit revealed in Trenches 1 and 2. A single small sherd of medieval pottery was found in the spoil from the pit, along with a piece of red brick. It would appear that the feature is therefore post-medieval in date. The mixed soils sealing the pit in Trench 1 appear to be directly associated with it, representing the redeposition of material removed during the excavation of the pit. The second feature recorded was an area of drystone walling in Trench 2. It is unclear what function the walling served, but it clearly postdated the pit and is thus post-medieval.
Although the site was considered to be of limited archaeological potential, the construction works were monitored. No evidence for archaeological activity was revealed, but the remains of the foundations of a series of buildings which fronted onto Jamestown Road, associated areas of burning/ash deposits and a stone/brick-lined drain were noted. The soils on the site consisted of mixed clays/garden soils with modern inclusions, and nothing of further archaeological interest was revealed during the construction works.
Rath House, Ferndale Rd, Rathmichael, Co. Dublin
