County: Dublin Site name: BALROTHERY: Old Coach Road
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 01E0255
Author: Rob Lynch, IAC Ltd.
Site type: Structure and Field system
Period/Dating: Medieval (AD 400-AD 1600)
ITM: E 720062m, N 761743m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.591788, -6.186385
Testing was carried out on a proposed development site on the Old Coach Road in the townland of Balrothery, Co. Dublin. Five trenches were excavated between 15 and 21 March 2001, using a machine fitted with a toothless bucket.
The results of the test-trenching indicate that a number of medieval features survive across the development area. Activity would appear to be more concentrated to the north of the site, where a substantial medieval metalled surface was constructed directly over natural. It had minimum dimensions of 15m north–south by 6m and showed evidence of resurfacing in places. The presence of such an extensive feature raises the question of association with other features. It is unlikely that this surface occurred in isolation and it is probable that the remains of associated structures exist on the site or in the adjoining property. Owing to the need to leave the existing access to the site undisturbed, and the phasing of the construction of the project, it was not possible to test the areas closest to the existing road, which follows the line of the medieval road, where structures may be present.
A number of linear features which appear to be post-medieval in date and agricultural in nature were recorded at the southern end of the development area. This area also contained a pit filled with organic material, possibly from the medieval period.
The presence of medieval pottery within the ploughzone and the truncated appearance of a number of features indicate that much of the horizontal medieval stratigraphy across the site has been disturbed by later agricultural activity.
8 Dungar Terrace, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin
