2014:160 - WICKLOW WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAMME, Stage 3, Wicklow

A programme of archaeological was carried out for the proposed Wicklow County Water Conservation Programme-Stage 3, Contract 1. The Works consisted of the rehabilitation of existing water mains and associated services along selected roads within various Distribution Main Areas (DMAs)in County Wicklow.

The archaeological work consisted of intermittent site inspections and full time monitoring depending on the proximity of works to known archaeological monuments and the type of work being undertaken.

Groundworks for the project were carried out under general licence no 14E0054 and Consent nos C534, E4542, R356 over a period between February and September 2014. The bulk of the work was carried out using ‘No Dig’ installation methods. The contractor utilized directional drilling and upsizing (pipe bursting) to install the new pipework. This method follows the lines of existing services through previously disturbed ground. The only open cut was for the excavation of launch and receptor pits at 100m intervals. Typically these pits measured 2.5m in length by 0.8m wide by 1.2m maximum depth.

Laragh North DMA
Works along both the Military road (R115) and the road to Annamoe, R765, were subject to intermittent inspections. Other than Drumgoff Barracks, dated 1800 (WI023-017), there are no recorded monuments along the route. An open cut trench along the Oldbridge Road was subject to full-time monitoring. All the other works were carried out by directional drilling with launch and receptor pits located at 100m intervals. In all instances the pits exposed a natural stratigraphy of orange-brown sandy-clay with large stones and occasional boulders with no finds, features or fills of archaeological potential evident.

Laragh South DMA – Watermain from Laragh to Glendalough Upper Lake
Based on the results of the archaeological assessment three zones of archaeological potential (ZAPs) were identified along this section. ZAP 1 encompassed the National Monument (Ref No. 134) in Glendalough comprising the Cathedral, Round Tower, Churches, Priory (Augustinian), Crosses, ringfort, hut site and cave (St Kevin’s) The other ZAPs are two wayside crosses, both National Monuments (WI023-030, ZAP 2 and WI023-022 ZAP 3) located along the road to the north-west in the direction of the lake.

Archaeological monitoring of ZAP 1, 2 and 3 took place between March and May 2014. The route from east to west passed through Laragh town, bypassing the main monastic complex at Glendalough, and west along the R757 towards the Upper Lake.

In Laragh village the launch and receptor pits exposed orange brown natural sandy clay with gravel and sub-rounded small stones under the tarmac and road base (0.15m). This stratigraphy was largely uniform through the subject area, with occasional pockets of peat and larger boulders. There were no fills or deposits of archaeological potential noted.

Further west in Brockagh townland test pits in the vicinity of Trinity church (WI023-014001, 2, 5 7 6, National monument 134) was undertaken. The church, located on a natural outcrop south of the existing road on a lower elevation, has an associated graveyard and children’s burial ground. Works in this area exposed natural clay and gravels and a number of existing services.

Nestled within tree cover at a ‘Y’ junction (R756 and R757) is the wayside cross (WI023-013). No trenches were necessary in this immediate area as the section was directionally drilled.

West along the R757 towards the Upper Lake, a number of pits were dug at 100m intervals. This methodology reduced the amount of impacts on the roadway and in particular on the sites of two wayside crosses WI023-030 and WI023-013. No finds or features were uncovered along the Laragh South DMA.

Dunlavin DMA
This area was directionally drilled and the launch and receptor pits produced no evidence of any finds, features or deposits. Below the tarmac and roadbase the stratigraphy was a compact orange/brown, natural clay with occasional pockets of modern gravel and stone to a depth of 1m.

The Town DMA Rathdrum
In all of the launch and receptor pits that were inspected the stratigraphy was of redeposited natural clay, some modern gravel and a compacted shale geology immediately below the foundation material for the roads.

Stratford DMA
The pipework was installed using the directional drilling method requiring the excavation of launch and receptor pits at 100m intervals. The stratigraphy recorded below the tarmac and roadbase was a natural mid-brown clay with gravel. No finds, features or deposits of archaeological potential were noted.

Arklow Town DMA
The area within the RMP constraint for the historic town was subject to full time monitoring. At the junction of Condren’s Lane Upper a Victorian culvert was recorded. This was visible at 0.3m below ground level and was visible to 1.3m in depth. The capstone of the culvert was shale and the walls were smaller limestone blocks. The total width of the culvert was 1.1m and the internal dimensions were 0.6m and 0.65m in height. The culvert is orientated north-south and probably joins a larger culvert that runs the length of Main Street. All other pits exposed previously disturbed clay; no finds, features or deposits of archaeological potential were noted.