2020:481 - Ballyogan, Sandyford, Dublin 18, Dublin

Archaeological monitoring of ground disturbance associated with a development was undertaken in January and February 2020.

Monitoring was carried out in two phases. The first phase in January 2020 involved the monitoring of the excavation of a compound area in the north of the site. This was carried out in tandem with the rebuilding of ground in the north-west to allow site access from the higher street level. A haul road running south-south-east from the compound to within c. 10m of the southern site boundary was stripped of topsoil. The topsoil was found to be very shallow (c. 0.1m) and consisted of mid-brown sandy clay over a yellowish-brown clayey sand, which was redeposited. At this time, a redundant block wall dividing the site was also removed.

The second phase, carried out in February 2020, involved the monitoring of the levelling of the western half of the site, which necessitated the reduction of between 1.65-1.8m of soil and redeposited material (Plate 1). Due to the depth of redeposited material across the site, natural subsoil was not revealed, with the formation level of the development remaining within the redeposited material. It should also be noted that the west of the site contained substantial amounts of domestic refuse and was subsequently designated as a temporary topsoil storage area.

The results of the archaeological monitoring correspond with the results of the previous monitoring of investigations within the site, indicating that a substantial depth of redeposited material is present across the site, which originated during the construction of the nearby M50 motorway.

Nothing of archaeological significance was identified during monitoring of groundworks.

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