County: Dublin Site name: CHURCHTOWN UPPER
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 22:16(01–03) Licence number: 05E0847
Author: Teresa Bolger, for Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd, 27 Merrion Square, Dublin 2.
Site type: Environs of ecclesiastical site
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 716176m, N 728137m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.290796, -6.257443
The site is located within the grounds of Notre Dame des Missions Convent, Churchtown Upper, Dublin 14; it is currently used as a sports field. A geophysical survey was conducted on 1 and 3 June 2005 (licence 05R063). A series of anomalies were identified which indicated the potential for archaeological features to survive at the site. A test excavation was carried out on 28–29 July 2005. Three trenches were excavated, to provide a more detailed assessment of the anomalies identified by the survey.
The excavation indicated that a curvilinear ditch is present in the eastern half of the playing field. This ditch defines the western portion of an enclosure which appears to be associated with the early medieval ecclesiastical foundation of St Nahi’s. The enclosure extends across a section of the playing field measuring a minimum of c. 70m by c. 35m. The remaining anomalies appear to relate to land drainage or natural phenomena.
