2013:046 - Landsdowne/Old Wesley grounds, Kilgobbin, Dublin

A programme of test-trenching took place in February 2013 at this large rectangular site situated between the old church (DU025-016) and the medieval castle and core of Kilgobbin (DU025-017/DU026-121), though no specific known sites were situated within the development footprint. Excavations (Larsson 2004 and Bolger 2004 04E1373?) to the south of the church identified a portion of an enclosure which is likely to have encircled the present church and graveyard, as well as other significant early medieval activity. Excavations to the north of Kilgobbin settlement also identified significant archaeology (Moriarty 2007, 05E0322?). The archaeological and historical background of the site demonstrates continuous activity in the area from the Neolithic to the post-medieval period. In particular, the site location between Kilgobbin church and tower-house may have promoted the use of the site area for a range of activities associated with the medieval settlement of Kilgobbin

Two archaeological geophysical surveys had previously been carried out on the site for previous developments (Nichols 02R079 and Thébaudeau 08R030) and had identified a possible archaeological feature that turned out to be a late 18^th-century or 19^th-century field drain. Previous monitoring at the Belarmine development to the immediate east of the site found extensive archaeological remains, but not in the eastern side of Belarmine, near this development.

23 trenches (2m wide by 20-260m long) were excavated through a relatively shallow topsoil measuring in thickness between 0.1m on the pitches and 0.6m in the north-east of the site, down to a pale yellowish-grey compact silty-clay natural subsoil with frequent stones.

The testing programme found archaeological features in the north-east of the site, just within the constraint circle of DU025-017 (Kilgobbin settlement), and north of the three playing fields. These consisted of two pits containing charcoal and stones, one of

which also contained ironworking remains, and a stray find of medieval pottery (Leinster Cooking Ware, 12^th-14^th century AD). The pits were not dated but the presence of iron-working slag and absence of modern material, and the location of the pits, suggests a date between the Iron Age and the early post-medieval period. The archaeological report recommended that excavation take place in this area prior to any development groundworks.

Elsewhere the site was found to be extensively scarped during the construction of the rugby pitches in 1974-5. The test-trenching programme indicated that the construction of these pitches comprised extensive removal of soil from the pitches and its removal off-site (rather than reusing it to fill lower areas and burying potential archaeological features). The current depth of topsoil on the pitches (which is not the original topsoil) is very shallow (0.1m-0.15m) and the partial remains of agricultural 18^th- or 19^th-century field drains here indicate that large amounts of soil have been scarped. The chances of any archaeological material surviving on the three playing pitches is therefore extremely small.

Archaeology Plan, 32 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2