2019:166 - Laughanstown, Dublin

A programme of test trenching was carried out at the site of a proposed residential development in the townland of Laughanstown, Dublin 18. The assessment was carried out in response to planning conditions attached to the proposed development (Planning Ref.: DZ17A/0714). It follows a previous desktop assessment carried out by Maeve Tobin in 2017.

The proposed development area, ‘Res 2 Domville’, was zoned for residential development in the Cherrywood Planning Scheme (2014).The site is bound to the east by the Luas line and to the west by the proposed Tully Park. The land rises steeply to the west towards Tully Church, graveyard, enclosures, high crosses and grave slabs (DU026-023001–20). The graveyard is located c. 90m west of the site although it is possible that remains of an outer enclosure extend around this to the east. The zone of archaeological potential for the group of features extends into the western periphery of the proposed development area. Tully church and high crosses are designated as National Monuments in State Ownership (Nat. Mon. 216 and 225) and are also listed as Protected Structures in the County Development Plan. The zone of potential for the Laughanstown Military Camp (DU026-127) extends to the eastern boundary of the site, although the actual former extent of the camp probably includes the current area. Within the wider area there are seven further sites listed in the Sites & Monuments Record.

Testing was carried out over the course of three days from 18 June 2019 using a mechanical excavator fitted with a flat grading bucket. The trenches targeted open green space to fully investigate the archaeological potential of the site. Testing was constrained by exclusion zones set out around native orchids, scrub which may contain nesting birds, and Japanese knotweed and very deep deposits of dumped material identified across the site.

One area of archaeological significance has been identified during the course of testing (AA1). This consists of four pit/hearth features and a pit or post-hole of probable prehistoric date. Ground disturbances associated with the permitted development will have a direct impact on the archaeological remains. It is recommended that AA1 is excavated in advance of development.

Testing has indicated the present of c. 3m of imported material across much of the development area, which hindered the ability to fully investigate the original soil horizon. Notwithstanding this there is potential for previously unrecorded archaeological features to survive beneath the original topsoil horizon and imported material. If present, ground works associated with the proposed development would have an adverse impact on any such archaeological remains. It is recommended that the removal of imported material and topsoil as part of the proposed development be monitored by a suitably qualified archaeologist.

Unit G1 Network Enterprise Park, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow