County: Dublin Site name: Chapel Farm, Lusk
Sites and Monuments Record No.: DU008–010(02) Licence number: 070409
Author: Antoine Giacometti, Arch-Tech Ltd, 32 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2.
Site type: Prehistoric and medieval settlement
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 721237m, N 754202m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.523783, -6.171567
Monitoring at the Chapel Farm residential development, Lusk, Co. Dublin, was carried out from May to June 2007. The archaeological work was undertaken in order to grade the banks of a stream curving around a proposed public park within the development. Significant archaeological material had been identified in this proposed public park in 2001–2 by Christine Baker (Excavations 2001, No. 448; Excavations 2002, No. 621, 01E0872).
During this phase of monitoring, one area revealed a cluster of archaeological features that appeared to date to the prehistoric period, including a large banked ditch, smaller ditches and a pit. A flint arrowhead was found near the base of the eastern bank of the earliest ditch, which may tentatively suggest an Early Bronze Age date for these features. The prehistoric activity identified on the site fits in well with the broader picture of prehistoric activity throughout the Lusk region that has emerged over the past decade as the result of intensive archaeological investigations. This part of the site was preserved in situ.
Elsewhere on the site a cluster of small medieval ditches and a pit were identified on the banks of a stream, and these were fully excavated. These were associated with a dense ceramic deposit of Irish-made pottery dating to the 12th–14th century. Post-medieval and modern agricultural features were also found.
The results of the monitoring programme have confirmed the decision by the National Monuments Service to protect the archaeological remains in the proposed public park. The archaeological remains of medieval date identified in 2001–2 have been supplemented by evidence for a significant settlement of possible prehistoric date, as well as additional evidence for medieval occupation. By the post-medieval period the area of the site appears only to have been used for agricultural purposes and settlement here appears to have ceased. The lack of extensive post-medieval activity suggests that preservation of earlier material will be high. Any future work in or around this proposed public work (for example the planting of trees) will need to take cognisance of the archaeological remains.
