County: Dublin Site name: Drumnigh
Sites and Monuments Record No.: DU015-117, DU015-119 Licence number: 14E0007
Author: Fintan Walsh
Site type: Enclosure and brick kiln
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 722677m, N 741931m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.413220, -6.154660
Testing was carried out at the site of a proposed housing development at Drumnigh, Co. Dublin. It follows a geophysical survey of the proposed development area which was undertaken by Target Geophysics in January 2014 (Licence Ref.: 14R001).
Two RMP sites are marked within the proposed development boundary: a potential enclosure (DU015-117) and a ring ditch (DU015-119). In addition to these a ‘figure-of-eight’ enclosure also within the proposed development boundary has recently (November 2013) been identified by Faith Bailey of Irish Archaeological Consultancy through examination of aerial photography.
A detailed geophysical survey of the proposed development area was undertaken by Target Geophysics in January 2014 (Licence Ref.: 14R001).
The geophysical survey confirmed the presence of the ‘figure-of-eight’ enclosure and the ring ditch (DU015-119) however DU015-117 was not represented in the geophysical survey results. In addition to this other positive responses were interpreted as the remains of 19th-century buildings depicted on the first edition OS mapping of the area and possible pits and/or burning.
The aims of the test trench assessment were to investigate the main anomalies identified in the geophysical survey, and including the newly discovered ‘figure-of-eight’ enclosure. Although the geophysical survey failed to identify DU015-117 its presence was suggested by aerial photography so test trenches were positioned over the projected line of the enclosure ditch based on superimposed aerial photograph mapping.
A total of 17 trenches were excavated across the main geophysical anomalies and the projected line of DU015-117 over the course of three days from 3 February 2014.
Testing confirmed the presence of the large ‘figure-of-eight’ enclosure (Archaeological Area 1) which measures c. 50m east–west and at least 75m north–south (with c. 60m extending inside the development boundary). Testing confirmed the presence of enclosure DU015-117 (Archaeological Area 2). Testing also confirmed the presence of the ring ditch DU015-119 (Archaeological Area 3) which was found to measure c. 12.5m diameter. The remaining trenches which targeted key geophysical anomalies across the southern part of the proposed development area identified only 19th-century deposits and a brick kiln.
The proposed development would have an adverse impact on Archaeological Areas 1 and 2 while Area 3 is positioned within a green area of the proposed development. It was recommended that Archaeological Areas 1 and 2 be excavated and that Archaeological Area 3 be fenced off and preserved in situ. It was also recommended that the brick kiln be excavated and that the remainder of the development area be subject to monitoring.
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