County: Dublin Site name: DUBLIN AIRPORT, COLLINSTOWN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: DU014–011, DU014–023 Licence number: 06E0545
Author: Niall Gregory, Gregory Consultant Archaeology Ltd, Dunburbeg, Clonmel Road, Cashel, Co. Tipperary.
Site type: Monitoring
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 716270m, N 743162m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.425739, -6.250513
Between May 2006 and August 2007 intermittent monitoring of groundworks associated with the proposed extension of the airport terminal building were undertaken. In conjunction with the Department of the Environment, and based on health and safety considerations, an investigative testing excavation was considered unsuitable and potentially hazardous, thus a programme of intensive monitoring of groundworks was implemented in its stead.
An area comprising 7838m2 was monitored and the results were determined to be not of archaeological significance, as no remains of cultural or heritage value were recovered. The stratigraphic matrix consisted of 0.6m of reinforced concrete where the aircraft runways exist, which was underlain by up to 0.4m of hardcore. The underlying natural subsoil was a very compacted silty clay, with a high volume of decayed and undecayed limestone present.
The majority of the construction had little or no impact on to the subsoils, but the laying of service lines and utility plants did have deeper impacts, ranging from 1.4 to 4m. In places, depths of up to 6m were recorded as having been achieved. Fragments of early 20th-century clay drainage pipes associated with the previous use of the area by the Royal Air Force (pre-1920) and one piece of oyster shell were recovered.
