2004:0618 - LUSK: 'Chapel Farm' and NBSP Development, Dublin Road, Dublin

The site is located to the south-west of Lusk village, immediately outside the zone for the recorded medieval town. The residential development at this site has been carried out in phases. This note describes the preliminary results of a sixth programme of monitoring within Field B at the southern extent of the development area. The field was under cultivation prior to topsoil-stripping. Deep ploughing had taken place, disturbing the ground heavily down to the subsoil horizon. The deep ploughing which had occurred may have resulted in the destruction of possible archaeological features.

The topsoil consisted of mid-brown silty clay with occasional small to medium stones. The depth of the topsoil ranged from 0.3m to 0.45m. The subsoil across the stripped area consisted of a compact yellow/brown clayey silt with frequent grey streaks cutting through the subsoil where the ground was deeply ploughed.

Field B was located central to the southern edge of the overall development, adjacent to the west of the field, which was monitored during Phase 5 of monitoring by Angela Wallace (Excavations 2003, No. 636, 03E1251). Prior to topsoil-stripping, the field had been heavily disturbed by machinery, with wheel and tyre tracks disturbing the ground in many places down to the subsoil horizon. Topsoil-stripping within this area was carried out in November/December 2003 but had to be abandoned due to the wet weather conditions. Work was resumed in January 2004. During this phase of monitoring several small and shallow pits were encountered, one of which contained a flint scraper. All features were subsequently excavated but no further finds were recovered. No further features were discovered within Field B.

32 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2