2018:471 - Rathbeale Archaeological Park, Oldtown, Swords, Dublin

Monitoring of groundwork's was carried out along the western perimeter of the proposed Rathbeale Archaeology Park, in Oldtown, Swords, County Dublin. The application area lies to the south of the Glen Ellan Road, north of the Rathbeale Road and to the east of Swords Educate Together. Rathbeale Archaeology Park incorporates the monuments DU011–144001 and DU011–144003, which comprise an early medieval settlement cemetery and associated field system. The complex is centered in the southern half of Oldtown and extends south across the Rathbeale Road into the townland of Mooretown. The enclosure consists of three concentric ditches; the largest incorporates a diameter of 200m, while the innermost ditch encloses a burial ground (see Baker 2004 and 2010).

The assessment was undertaken from 30 July to 16 August 2018. The works involved the construction of a footpath and cycleway along the western edge of the proposed park, as well as the installation of public lighting. The investigation demonstrated that the grounds to the east of the school campus were substantially disturbed and included deposits of construction debris and modern refuse. Elsewhere, the sod overlay a rich loamy topsoil horizon that graded down onto a subsoil that was indicative of the B-horizon layer. The natural boulder clay was only encountered at the higher-ground towards the south-west end of the development at a depth of 0.4–0.45m below ground level. No archaeological remains were identified or impacted upon during the assessment.

References
Baker, 2004. A lost ecclesiastical site in Fingal. Archaeology Ireland 18 (3), 14–7.
Baker, C. 2010. ‘Occam’s Duck’: three early medieval settlement cemeteries or ecclesiastical sites? In C. Corlett and M. Potterton (eds.), Death and Burial in Early Medieval Ireland in the Light of Recent Archaeological Excavations, 1–22. Wordwell: Bray.

Lynwood House, Balinteer Rd., Dublin 16, D16 H9V6