2009:349 - BARRACK LANE, LUSK, Dublin

The development area was located halfway up the eastern length of Barrack Lane, within the town of Lusk, Co. Dublin. The proposed development involved the construction of a two-storey house, wastewater-treatment unit and all associated site works. The development was within the zone of archaeological potential for Lusk, between the inner and outer enclosure ditches associated with the monastic settlement. The early medieval round tower and high medieval belfry tower are clearly visible 130m to the north-west of the site.
Testing was completed on 18 June 2009. Eight trenches were excavated to natural ground across the site. A total of nine features were identified. Eight of these were located at the southern part of the site in Trenches 1, 5 and 7 (C3, C5, C7, C9, C11, C13 and C17). The ninth, C15, was located at the north-western limit of the site. These features are within the footprint of the proposed dwelling. The diagnostic pottery finds recovered from the fill of three of these features, possible debris pits (C11, C9 and C13), indicate a medieval date which is probably connected with activities carried out within the monastic settlement.
Two possible ditches were exposed in Trenches 5 and 7 (C11 and C13) and two linear features were exposed in Trenches 1 and 2 (C7 and C15). Medieval pottery was recovered from the fills of both these features. A midden was recorded at the western end of Trench 1.
Due to the size restraints of the site, it would not have been possible to establish a sufficient buffer zone to protect archaeological remains and so full excavation of all archaeological features exposed was recommended within the footprint of the proposed development. Excavation was subsequently carried out from 29 October to 4 November 2009 (see No. 350 below).