County: Dublin Site name: Clogheder/Folkstown Great/Stephenstown/Folkstown Little
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 07E0836
Author: Fintan Walsh, Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd, 120B Greenpark Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow.
Site type: Burnt mound, medieval structures, prehistoric structure, enclosure ditch
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 718382m, N 763078m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.604158, -6.211236
Testing was undertaken in advance of the Phase 5 Balbriggan outer relief road, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin. Part of the distribution road was routed directly through the constraint area for DU005–052, a souterrain and enclosure site. Test-trenching was undertaken in October and November 2007.
Geophysical survey (07R0158) of the route and lands in the vicinity of the proposed road revealed a large possible monastic site, with a double-ditched interior enclosure, associated field systems and an exterior outer enclosing ditch. The majority of this geophysical enclosure lay outside the limits of the road development; however, the outer ditch extended into the wayleave of the proposed road.
Testing revealed six areas of archaeological activity (Areas 1–6).
Area 1 was identified as a burnt mound, c. 15m by 8m. Area 2 was identified as a possible medieval structure and associated features. Area 3 was identified as a possible medieval structure (house) and associated pits, and garden soils, the projected extent of the archaeological remains of which was c. 75m by 50m. Area 4 was identified as a possible prehistoric circular structure, c. 10m diameter, and a number of post-medieval field ditches. Area 5 was identified as a medieval pit, stone feature and field boundary ditch. Area 6 was identified as a portion of the outer ditch of the enclosure identified in the geophysical survey.
