2003:468 - CHERRYWOOD AND LAUGHANSTOWN, Dublin

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Dublin Site name: CHERRYWOOD AND LAUGHANSTOWN

Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 03E0839

Author: Melanie McQuade, Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd.

Site type: Pit

Period/Dating: Post Medieval (AD 1600-AD 1750)

ITM: E 724509m, N 723595m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.248107, -6.134315

Monitoring of groundworks associated with the development of the Science and Technology Park (II) and district lands in Cherrywood and Laughanstown (c. 26.7ha) was undertaken between 21 July and 25 August 2003.

The stratigraphy over most of the site comprised dark-brown topsoil (0.1–0.2m in depth) overlying an orangey-brown ploughsoil (0.3–0.5m in depth). The underlying natural subsoil varied from grey stony soil to yellow sandy soil.

Six potential archaeological sites and an isolated post-hole were identified during monitoring. The latter was investigated under the monitoring licence and separate licences were obtained for each of the other areas of archaeological potential (Nos 623, 03E1145; 470, 03E1182; 634, 03E1365; 625, 03E1366; 626 and 627, 03E1471).

The post-hole uncovered in the south of the site had a diameter of 0.16m and was a U-shaped cut in the natural ground. Its fill was brown sandy clay with frequent inclusions of charcoal and burnt clay, 0.18m deep. There were no finds from this feature and its date has not been determined.

Plough furrows and a series of stone-lined land drains were uncovered across the site and are a clear indication of agricultural activity here from the post-medieval period to the recent past. Two main types of drain were identified. The first was 0.5–0.6m wide and was lined with granite and limestones (0.2m on average). The second type was a narrow drain (0.4m wide) lined with cobbles.

Finds from monitoring include post-medieval ceramics, glass, a clay pipe, some non-diagnostic fragments of metal and a flint scraper.

2 Killiney View, Albert Road Lower, Glenageary, Co. Dublin