2018:458 - Ballybane/Aungierstown and Ballybane/Clondalkin, Dublin

A total of 38 test trenches were excavated, across three areas (Area A, B and C). Trenches 1-7 were located in Area A, the north-east section of the proposed development site, Trenches 8-27 were located in Area B to the west, north-west and sout-hwest of the excavated enclosure site Area 3 (AH5; RMP DU021-109; Licence No. 17E0577) and Trenches 28-35 were located in Area C to the south of Trenches 1-7 within the property boundaries of Erganagh, Kent Cottage, and Weston Lodge.

No significant sub-surface archaeological remains are present within the areas tested. There were no indications that there were any outlying archaeological features relating to either of the two enclosure sites (Area 4–AH5 and Area 4–AH6). The features that were encountered were generally drainage and cultivation features relating to the post-medieval agricultural usage of the lands.

The geophysical anomalies identified in March 2018 that could be directly investigated proved to have no archaeological significance. However, due to constraints on access, it was not possible to excavate all the trenches originally planned in the south-west quadrant of the site, so a number of the geophysical anomalies have not been assessed. There is still a potential that these anomalies could reflect the presence of subsurface archaeological features.

The only feature of potential interest encountered was the wide linear ditch (027) encountered at the south-west end of Trench 29 running parallel to the townland boundary between Ballybane and Aungierstown and Ballybane. This ditch appears to represent the sub-surface remains of the earlier (pre-1900) configuration of this townland boundary. It appears on historic mapping as a double field boundary and possibly an earlier trackway or laneway.

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