2018:260 - Newtown, Dublin Airport Logistics Park, Fingal, Dublin

Monitoring took place of ground disturbance works for the development of two industrial units in a green field site in Dublin Airport Logistics Park in Fingal, Co Dublin. Planning for the development has been granted by Fingal County Council, planning reference number F16A/0128.
The development site, which is to house the westernmost of the industrial units, measures c. 130m by 75m. The ground slopes very gently to the west, where the overburden is significantly thinner. The site was stripped by machine in the following sequence:
1. Single pass with a grasscutter/mulcher.
2. Removal of the sod by a 20-ton tracked machine.
3. Removal of the topsoil by a 50-ton tracked machine.
4. Archaeologists monitored the stripping by the 50-ton tracked machine and one archaeological feature was recorded and excavated.
The topsoil was a mid-greyish brown clayey and the underlying subsoil was a light-brownish grey silty clay with moderate small stone. The natural was a light-orange grey clay with frequent stone inclusions and limestone outcrops on darker sediment.
The base of an isolated hearth (measuring 1m x 1m) with a stake-hole on the southern edge was recorded in the south-east section of the site (711941 742199).
The hearth is likely to be associated with the occupation of ringfort DU014-006001. Similar hearths with associated stake-holes, which supported fireside furniture such as spits, have been recorded in proximity to other early medieval sites. For example a date of cal AD 1270–1381 (UB–30584) was returned from the basal charcoal of an isolated hearth of similar dimensions in Kilbrittain, Co Cork (15E0080) and an isolated hearth with associated stake-hole returned a date of cal AD 400-570 (Beta 210808) on the route of the N22 outside Tralee, Co. Kerry.

No other archaeological stratigraphy, features or artefacts, with the exception of the base of an isolated hearth, were recorded while monitoring.

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