2012:228 - Glenageary Road Lower District Metered Area (DMA), Glasthule, Dublin

An archaeological presence was required for the monitoring of works in this District Metered Area (DMA) on occasions between June and July 2012. The works that formed part of the Glenageary Road Lower DMA consisted of monitoring of open cut trenching within the vicinity of the Martello Tower site (DU023-017) at the junction of Glenageary Road Lower, George’s Street Upper, Park Road and Summerhill Road.

The process of rehabilitation involved either the exposure of the existing watermain or the excavation of a new trench for a new pipe (new-lay). This was generally carried out with the use of a mechanical excavator of either a JCB type or a smaller ‘mini-digger’ type excavator. Where necessary some of the trenches were partially hand excavated.

The northernmost stretch (approximately 15m in length) of open cut trenching was monitored on Glenageary Road Lower; this stretch measured 0.7m in average width and was excavated to a maximum depth of 1.2m. The majority of the trench was occupied by light brown/yellow sandy clay, which was cut through by a large amount of both active and obsolete service ducts. This sandy clay deposit was overlain by up to 0.45m of modern road material (hardcore/sand and tarmac).

Towards the junction with George’s Street Upper, Park Road and Summerhill Road the sandy clay deposit was cut through by the pre-existing cast iron water main, as well as by a later concrete pipe housing live electrical cables.

A stretch of trench measuring 15m in length was excavated from this junction along George’s Street Upper; approximately 0.4m of modern road material overlay the sandy clay deposit identified in the Glenageary Road Lower trench. This sandy clay was again cut by numerous service pipes and ducts, the majority of which were located at the western end of the trench.

A stretch of trench of comparable length was excavated from this junction along the southern end of Park Road; the stratigraphy within the trench was essentially identical to that observed in the Glenageary Road Lower trench.

The sandy clay identified in these two stretches of trench appeared to be archaeologically sterile and most likely consisted of natural subsoil. This subsoil was only visible in small patches in the eastern stretch of trench running along Summerhill Road; this stretch of trench measured approximately 25m in length and 1.5m in depth and was for the most part occupied by a 1m-thick, mixed greenish grey gravelly clay silt and light brown/yellow redeposited subsoil deposit. This mixed infill deposit was clearly backfill of the pre-existing water main trench, which ran along the centre of this stretch of open cut. The water main trench was sealed by 0.4-0.5m of modern road material.

No archaeological features, in situ deposits or artefacts were uncovered during the monitoring of these ground works.

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