2017:238 - Clonard/Folkstown Great, Dublin

Testing, monitoring and excavation were carried out by Gill McLoughlin and Matthew Seaver of Courtney Deery Heritage Consultancy Ltd on behalf of Bridgedale Construction relating to a proposed housing development (Planning Reference F13A/0240) and followsed a desktop assessment, field walkover survey, geophysical survey and testing. The proposed development site is located approximately 1.5km west of Balbriggan, north of the R122 and west of the Castlemill Link Road. Testing was carried out to define and characterise the zone of preservation around enclosure DU002-020 which was identified as a result of geophysical survey (05R137) and to retrieve dating material and provide information for future information panels on the site which is to be preserved within a Class 2 Open Space.

DU002-020 is an oval ditched enclosure measuring 50m x 40m with an internal small circular enclosure c.15m diameter. Monitoring of topsoil stripping was carried out to locate and excavate areas containing archaeological features identified in a previous phase of testing and to resolve any further features identified within the development area.

Testing and monitoring to locate previously identified archaeological areas was carried out by Matthew Seaver between 6-30 June 2017 and the subsequent excavation and later phase of monitoring were carried out by Gill McLoughlin between 17 October and 21 December 2017. Ditches identified in the test trench appeared to correspond with the inner and outer enclosure ditches indicated on the geophysical survey and a further linear ditch extended into the area north of the enclosure. Late Bronze Age pottery was recovered from the inner enclosure ditch and the outer enclosure ditch contained animal bone.

The excavation to the north of the enclosure focused on an area measuring 50m x 25m and comprised linear ditches which are likely to have been associated with the enclosure and represent drainage and/or field divisions. Animal bone and a stone tool were recovered from the fills of these features. A small area of metalling is also likely to have been associated with the enclosure.

Peripheral features across the site comprised a rectangular trough and six pits, some of which are likely to represent prehistoric activity and could have been associated with the ditched enclosure. Specialist analysis on the finds and environmental material and radiocarbon dating is awaited.

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