2018:381 - Cherrywood SDZ Phase 1 Infrastructure, Dublin

Monitoring was carried out during the construction phase of Cherrywood Strategic Development Zone Phase 1 Roads and Infrastructure project. Monitoring was required for groundworks in all greenfield areas within the townlands of Laughanstown and Brenanstown, Co. Dublin. The work was undertaken under a reactivation of licence 15E0471, in response to planning conditions attached to the proposed development (Reg. Ref. DZ15A/0758). Monitoring followed on from a series of previous investigations including Impact Assessment, geophysical survey, test testing and excavation.

Monitoring was undertaken for all topsoil stripping within greenfield areas within the footprint of Castle Street, Mercer Road, Barrington’s Road, Gun and Drum Hill, Bishop Street, Grand Parade and attenuation areas. The works were undertaken between December 2016 and October 2018.

The route passes partially within the zone of notification for six recorded monuments, including enclosure DU026-006, military camp DU026-127, burnt mounds DU026-164–5, castle DU026-098, and mill/enclosure DU026-080.
No archaeological remains were identified during topsoil stripping along Castle Street and Mercer Road in the vicinity of enclosure DU026-006 or mill DU026-080.

A construction exclusion zone was established around the perimeter wall for Lehaunstown Park containing castle DU026-093 which prevented any impact from traffic or groundworks to the monument.

The sites of burnt mounds DU026-164–5 were preserved in-situ beneath an unknown depth of imported material in the southern limit of Castle Street and Bishop Street. Monitoring of ground works in these areas did not reveal any in-situ remains of these sites or the overlying geo-textile, and as such it is probable that they exist outside of the road corridor.

No ground works were carried out within the zone of notification for military camp DU026-127 as part of the current phase of works.

A single area of archaeological potential (truncated burnt mound) was identified during monitoring in Brenanstown in addition to the five sites previously identified during the testing phase. This site was designated as Archaeological Area 6 (AA6) and it was subsequently excavated under a reactivation of licence 15E0471 between 27 January and 13 February 2017. The results of this excavation are included in the excavation reports prepared for the project. The remains of a stone wall, exposed during monitoring in Brenanstown, were recorded prior to removal. The programme of monitoring has confirmed the results of the geophysical survey undertaken in 2015.

Further monitoring will be required for the remaining elements of the project to the east and south of Lehaunstown Lane (Gun and Drum Hill, and Grand Parade), and during removal of any temporary topsoil storage areas.

Unit G1, Network Enterprise Park