2019:542 - Dublin Airport North Runway Project, Forrest Little - Site J, Dublin

Site J is located within the proposed development area of the North Runway Project at Dublin Airport in the townland of Forest Little. For the purpose of design and construction the North Runway area is divided into two, the landside area which is relatively undisturbed greenfield and the airside area which is modern and disturbed. There are no recorded archaeological sites within these lands, but geophysical survey undertaken by Target Geophysics under licence 16R0097 and archaeological test trenching undertaken by Courtney Deery Heritage Consultancy under licence 16E0335 identified several archaeological sites. Six of these (Site A (i), A (ii), B, C, D, I) required excavation and were resolved in 2017. Site A (Sites (i) and (ii) were excavated under the one licence), Sites B, C and D were excavated by Donald Murphy under licences 17E0053, 17E0092, 17E0091, 17E0090 respectively and Site I was excavated by Ian Russell under licence 17E0054. General monitoring of the landside area of this project was undertaken by Deirdre Murphy under licence 17E0055. Testing of the greenfield was carried out by Donald Murphy under licence 17E0282. Eleven small sites were subsequently identified and excavated. All archaeological works are therefore completed in the landside area of this development.

Site J was originally identified during the geophysical Survey by Courtney Deery (16R0097). It lies within the current airside lands of Dublin Airport. Geophysical survey revealed an oval bivallate enclosure which measured c.80m x 50m. It was defined by a broad ditch, roughly oval in shape, encompassing a smaller circular ditch measuring c.33m in diameter. Multiple linear responses and potential pit locations were located in proximity to the enclosure. Site J was tested in May-June 2019, in order to assess the scale and depth of archaeology present. Test trenching confirmed the presence of the oval enclosures, while also showing that the larger outer enclosure had been partially removed during historic road building and service laying in the area. The presence of pits, structural slot trenches and other archaeological features associated with the enclosures was also confirmed.

As Site J is not located under an area that will be used for runway construction, an assessment will be made on how best to proceed, with preservation in situ under a green area of the airport grounds a possible option. Alternatively, full excavation (preservation by record) will be required. Discussions are ongoing with the National Monuments Service.

Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit, Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co Louth