County: Dublin Site name: Fosterstown North, Swords
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 19E0034
Author: Linda Clarke, Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 717610m, N 745630m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.447608, -6.229453
A programme of archaeological test trenching was carried out in the townland of Fosterstown North, Swords, Co Dublin. The site of the proposed development contains no Recorded Monuments listed within the Record of Monuments and Places (RMP) for County Dublin. The nearest such Monument to the site (DU011-153 – pit) is located c. 0.1km to the east and will not be directly affected by the proposed development. The site is located c. 1km south of the zone of archaeological potential for Swords town (DU011-035). The study area contains no protected structure listed within Fingal County Development Plan 2016-2023. The nearest architectural heritage structure (NIAH Reg. No. 11343016, bridge) is located c. 0.8km to the north-east and will not be directly impacted by the proposed development.
A geophysical survey within the area to be developed was conducted by Donald Murphy and Robert Breen of Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit Ltd. (ACSU) in January 2019 under licence 19R0011. No clear signs of archaeology were present within the survey area. However, a number of faint anomalies in the form of curvilinear features were identified and it was recommended that these should be investigated during the testing phase.
The site was tested on 24-25 February 2020 using a 14-tonne tracked excavator. Trenches 1 and 11 could not be excavated due to their close proximity to the presence of overhead electrical wires. A total of 16 test trenches were excavated across the footprint of the proposed development (Trenches 2-10, 12-18). Each trench measured 1.8m in width and in total 1069m of linear trenches were excavated. In general, the trenches revealed mid-brown clay topsoil and sod at a depth of 0.2-0.35m, overlying orange clay natural with stone inclusions. No archaeological features or deposits were exposed or identified and no finds were recovered.
It is therefore recommended that no further archaeological input is required.
Unit 21 Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co Louth
