2013:530 - Woodside, Aikens Village, Stepaside, Co. Dublin, Dublin

Ground clearance, topsoil stripping and development related groundworks were archaeologically monitored by Shanarc Archaeology Ltd. under licence 13E0189 in accordance with the conditions of An Bord Pleanála Board Order PL 06D.239332 (relating to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Planning Reg. D10A/0440), on a c.11.82 hectare site, located in the townlands of Woodside and Murphystown, at Stepaside, Co. Dublin.

The site is bounded to the north and west by rear boundaries of residences accessed off Hillcrest Road and Old Kilgobbin Road; to the east by open space associated with Ferncarrig/Fernleigh and Sandyford Hall residential estates; and to the south and south-west by Village Road, Aiken's Village.

Archaeological monitoring was undertaken on dates between 9th May 2013 and 20th January 2017.

The development site was primarily a green field site, with areas of tree and scrub cover.

A layer of mid brown topsoil approximately 0.20m-0.30m deep covered the entire development site. For the majority of the site, this overlay a mid-brown moderately stony clay varying in depth from approximately 0.30m-0.60m, below which was mid brown sand and granite bedrock.

Several areas within the development site had dense tree and brush cover, in these areas the material between topsoil and granite bedrock consisted of mid-dark brown clay with heavy root contamination.

Much of the eastern and south-eastern area of the site had been previously built up and levelled with mid-dark brown stony clay; this had a depth of between 2.5m-4m and overlay granite bedrock.

No archaeological finds or features were uncovered during the monitored works.

Shanarc Archaeology Ltd. Unit 39A, Hebron Business Park, Hebron Road, Kilkenny