2018:206 - Glebe, Dublin

Monitoring was carried out of groundworks associated with a temporary car park at Glebe, Cherrywood, Dublin 18. Archaeological investigations formed a condition of planning (No. 12) for the car park as granted by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (Planning Ref.: DZ17A/0417) within the Cherrywood Strategic Development Zone (SDZ). These investigations followed on from an impact assessment carried out by IAC in 2017 (M. Tobin).

Monitoring was undertaken for all topsoil stripping and groundworks during the construction phase of the project over the course of 13 days between 27 April and 18 May 2018. A geophysical survey undertaken in 2001 had indicated the presence of anomalies with archaeological potential in the south-east quadrant of site however subsequent testing in 2003 did not attribute an archaeological origin. No evidence for these features was identified during the current phase of monitoring. These areas had been subject to ground disturbances in the intervening 15 years although the topsoil/subsoil horizon was surprisingly more intact than expected. It was apparent that land improvement and clearance had been carried out here in the 19th and 20th centuries and it is possible that the anomalous features identified in 2001 and 2003 may have been related to these activities.

Further to the west, along the southern margin of site, four pit-type features of archaeological potential were identified. Preliminary investigation indicated the presence of burnt bone and charcoal-rich material. An updated method statement for licence 18E0232 was submitted to include the subsequent excavation of these features. Excavation was undertaken by Muireann Ní Cheallacháin over the course of three days from the 10 May 2018 and the results of this investigation will be reported separately.

Topsoil stripping was also undertaken to the immediate south of the Wyatville Link Road during the current phase of monitoring. These works were carried out in the vicinity of the now redundant record DU026-025 (formerly recorded as a cairn). Testing in 2015 indicated no archaeological remains at this site and it was subsequently made redundant. The current phase of monitoring did not identify any archaeological remains in this area however the site had been subject to substantial previous disturbance associated with the adjacent M50 construction.

IAC Ltd, Unit G1, Network Enterprise Park, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow