2019:163 - Baldonnell Phase 2, Collegeland, Dublin

Pre-development test trenching was carried out at Collegeland. The proposed development area is located partially within an open field and land under development as part as Mountpark Baldonnell Phase 1 works to the north of Baldonnell Business Park, south of Casement Aerodrome and north of the N7 Naas Road.

There are five recorded monuments plotted within the proposed development area, consisting of a series of burnt mounds and spreads (DU021-098-102). Two previous archaeological testing programmes (2000 and 2009) failed to identify any evidence for a recorded enclosure and as such it was made a redundant record. However, a recent excavation (Licence 18E0182) revealed the presence of a sub-circular enclosure ditch with a c. 36m internal diameter as well as a potential concentric outer enclosure ditch. All of the archaeological remains are located in the north-east corner of the proposed development area and were investigated as part of the Mountpark Baldonnell Phase 1 logistics development.

This programme of testing followed a geophysical survey carried out in January 2019 by Lynda McCormack of IAC Ltd, under licence 19R0015. The survey identified multiple responses of potential archaeological significance. Ferrous responses were recorded throughout the survey area, which were interpreted as modern disturbance. Former field boundaries indicated within the historic OS mapping, as part of a network of recent land divisions and potentially contemporary ridge and furrow cultivation patterns, were also identified.

Testing was carried out over the course of seven days from 7 May 2019. The trenches targeted geophysical anomalies identified by the previous survey and open green space to fully investigate the archaeological potential of the site. In consultation with National Monuments Service it was agreed that eleven test trenches (Test Trenches 3-10, 13-14, 25), targeting potential enclosures of archaeological significance, would be excavated by hand. All other test trenches were excavated using a 13-tonne 360 degree tracked excavator, with a flat, toothless bucket.

Testing revealed four areas of archaeological significance, which have been designated as Archaeological Areas 1-4. These comprise two burnt mound features, a double ring ditch enclosure, and possible unrecorded field system activity. Should the proposed development proceed ground disturbances would result in a direct and adverse impact on those features described as Archaeological Area 1-4.

Furthermore there may be a direct negative impact on features previously identified as DU021-098-102 (Moriarty 2009) and DU021-021 (Duffy and McIlreavy 2019) within the north-eastern section of the proposed development area; a possible ringfort and early burnt mound activity.

Ground disturbances associated with the proposed development will result in a direct and adverse impact on any further previously unidentified archaeological features or deposits that have the potential to survive beneath the ground level, outside of the footprint of the excavated test trenches.

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