2016:049 - Gollierstown, Aungierstown, Ballybane, Dublin

MOORE GROUP undertook a programme of archaeological testing at two sites in West Dublin as part of the development of a 220/110 kV Substation in a green field site at Ballybane/Aungierstown and the development of an interface compound at nearby Kishoge, South County Dublin. Earthsound Archaeological Geophysics carried out surveys of the proposed development works at both sites in October 2015 (detection Device no. 15R0116). At the interface site in Kishoge dipolar anomalies detected suggested that the land has been used for the deposition of debris or imported soils, causing the magnetic interference. This interference appeared to be truncated by a number of possible ditches which, it was suggested, relate to underlying features or may be an artefact of the deposition of the debris or imported soils. At Ballybane, the proposed sub-station site, a series of circular and sub-circular trends were detected across the northern survey area. These were interpreted as representing archaeological ditches or geological trends. Testing involving the mechanical excavation of twelve trenches was carried out from 22-24 February 2016 in bright and dry conditions.

Ballybane Site

The proposed substation site was accessed via a new business park access road south of the New Nangor Road (R134). The site consists of an improved tillage field to the north, cut by a ditch to the south. The field was originally subdivided into a smaller sub-triangular plot, the boundary of which has in recent years been cleared away. Due to regular ploughing the site was relatively even underfoot. The test trenches were excavated by a 15-tonne backhoe excavator using a 1.2m-wide ditching bucket. All the test trenches were deliberately sited to target sub-surface anomalies identified during the geo-physical survey. These anomalies were variously interpreted as possible pits, ditches or relict boundaries. Trench 1 was located in the north-west corner of the site in relativity even ground. The trench measured 24m in length and was dug to an average depth of 0.5m. The topsoil was a rich humic material and the subsoil contained a high inclusion of angular stones. The only notable feature was a drainage channel at the west of the trench and was orientated north to south.

Kishoge Site

The proposed interface compound at Kishoge is located to the south-east of a roundabout at the junction of the R136 and the Ninth Lock Road. The field contains a high voltage tower with power lines overhead; the ground is of rough pasture with evidence of previous infill. This infilling was confirmed by the geophysical results, frequent ‘iron spikes’ were interpreted as relating to the importation of soils/debris. Three trenches were excavated across this area. Groundworks exposed a disturbed stratigraphy of imported builders' rubble and topsoil that had been dumped on the site. Subsoil, a boulder clay, was exposed at 1m in depth. There were no finds or features of archaeological potential.

Moore Archaeological and Environmental Services Ltd. Corporate House, Ballybrit, Business Park, Ballybrit, Galway.