2000:0314 - KINGSTOWN, Dublin

Topsoil-stripping of lands required for a section of the South-Eastern Motorway at Kingstown, Co. Dublin, commenced on 2 December 1999 and was completed on 3 May 2000. Work was very sporadic and totally dependent on both weather conditions and the availability of suitable machinery.

The initial stripping operations were focused to the east of the site of Kingstown House and on the creation and provision of access routes to the site works compound.

In March operations were centred on the area to the west of the Ballinteer Road (towards its junction with the Ticknock and Blackglen roads). This area constituted Site 7 (Area 2) in the original archaeological assessment report (see Additional Archaeological Assessment of Routes A and 5, South Eastern Motorway (hereafter referred to as AAASEM) (October 1996), vol. 1, 36–8), and, although subsequent test-trench excavations by Martin Reid had determined the non-archaeological nature of the potential monuments identified in this zone, it had been deemed necessary to monitor closely the topsoil-stripping of the area (see Archaeological Investigations Kingstown Townland, South Eastern Motorway, Co. Dublin, 98E0407, 8, hereafter referred to as Kingstown Report, and also Excavations 1998, 62).

This land to the immediate west of the Ballinteer Road constituted a public amenity in the form of open parkland prior to the commencement of road-construction activity. The topsoil-stripping operations confirmed the profile established by the test excavations, with the highly disturbed nature of the sub-sod stratigraphy being the by-product of the adjacent housing scheme and the subsequent landscaping of the area.

An earlier geophysical survey had suggested the presence of a possible structure to the immediate west of the Ballinteer Road (see AAASEM, vol. 1, 37; vol. 2, figs 1–5). The subsequent test excavation had determined that this suggested structure was not present (see Kingstown Report, 7). The stripping operation cut quite deeply into and indeed below the topsoil levels in this general zone. The presence of an extensive cluster of large granite boulders was revealed in the area in question. This was a natural feature.

The area to the east of the Ballinteer Road (designated Area 1 in the test excavations) was more extensive than its western counterpart and, being in possession of eleven suspected features (features a–j; G2 in AAASEM, vol. 1, 36–7), had subsequently been more extensively tested. Seven test cuttings were opened in this area (see Kingstown Report). The non-archaeological nature of the suspected features, as determined by the test excavations (ibid., 8), was again confirmed by the topsoil-stripping operations.

One feature of archaeological interest was exposed during the course of topsoil-stripping. A small sub-square area of black, charcoal-infused fill was disturbed by the manoeuvrings of a D8N, a particularly heavy piece of equipment. The basic form of the feature survived and illustrated that it was a shallow pit containing a dense charcoal and cremated bone fill. The only find from the pit was a sherd of pottery of prehistoric appearance, which had been deposited in the lower levels of the bone/charcoal fill towards its central area.

The pit was irregular in shape and featured two squared corners while being otherwise quite curvilinear in form. Diameter varied from 0.5m to 0.52m. Maximum depth was 0.11m. Within the southern perimeter of the pit two intrusive features had been inserted. A post-hole (overall dimensions: 70mm x 55mm; depth: 80–90mm) indicated that a post had been inserted at an angle of c. 45o. A stake-hole (overall dimensions: 40mm x 25mm; depth: 70mm) occurred 0.07m to its south-east. Towards the north-central floor area of the pit a third indentation (overall dimensions: 0.07m x 0.06m; depth: 0.04–0.05m)—possibly a second post-hole—was in evidence.

A close examination of the surrounding area established that the pit was an isolated feature. It may also be stated with some certainty that there had been no overt indications of any covering ‘mound’ prior to topsoil-stripping. The fill of the pit consisted of a dense stratum of charcoal and cremated bone.

The final two stages of topsoil-stripping saw those areas to the north of the site of Kingstown House and those areas to the north-east, i.e. in the direction of Sandyford, being processed. In the more southerly zones of the overall site, i.e. towards the junction of the Ticknock and Blackglen roads, the topsoil had been completely removed, whereas in the more low-lying northerly zones the boulder clay was only barely and indeed inconsistently exposed. This variation in procedure was undoubtedly influenced by the fact that, while the southerly (i.e. high-lying) areas would ultimately have to be lowered considerably below the level of natural bedrock, the more northerly and north-easterly areas would have to be artificially elevated by a build-up of introduced material. Nonetheless, two features of archaeological significance came to light during the topsoil-stripping work in these areas.

The most northerly area of the site was delimited by the converging courses of the Ballinteer Road and a stream flowing on a south to north orientation. To the immediate west of the stream a fulacht fiadh was identified and subsequently excavated (see Excavations 2000, No. 313).

The most easterly-lying zone of the current phase of the road project extended almost to the boundary walls of the Central Bank premises at Balally (in the direction of Kilcross/Sandyford). An isolated pit was identified and subsequently excavated in this area (see Excavations 2000, No. 315).

Both the fulacht fiadh and the isolated pit sites were eventually buried beneath build-up material in preparation for the construction of an elevated section of the motorway.

Brehon House, Kilkenny Road, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny