2011:182 - PRIORSLAND PARK AND RIDE, BRENANSTOWN, Dublin

The proposed works related to the construction of a temporary Park and Ride facility at the Carrickmines Stop on the Luas Green Line by the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA). Testing of this site, undertaken in 2009 by Richard Clutterbuck, CRDS Ltd, on behalf of the RPA, identified three potential archaeological areas within the boundary of the proposed car park (Excavations 2009, no. 293, C329, E4059).
Monitoring of topsoil clearance to accommodate construction works was carried out on a phased basis from June to August 2011. All topsoil clearance works were undertaken by a track machine fitted with a 2m-wide grading bucket. Owing to a redesign of the Park and Ride facility, two of the potential archaeological areas (Trench 2, possible pit; Trench 16, possible ditch/gully) were located outside, and to the west of, the revised Park and Ride boundary. Features identified in the third area (Trench 9) comprised a possible pit or shallow ditch feature with a charcoal-rich fill (F901) and two stakes. Elements of feature F901 were identified during monitoring. This feature proved to be the remains of a large field drain infilled with pink and white granite. The dark nature of the soil was consistent with stagnant water.
One archaeological feature was identified during the course of monitoring near the northern site boundary. Excavation identified the feature as the remains of a very shallow (0.55m long x 0.4m wide x 0.1m deep) fire-pit, surrounded to the south and east by an arrangement of seven stake-holes. The pit, which contained three fills, showed evidence of at least two phases of use. Ash charcoal relating to the pit’s second phase of use produced a radiocarbon date of cal. AD 769–892 (UBA-19691, 1203±26 BP).

for Railway Procurement Agency, Parkgate Street, Dublin 8