2020:612 - Carrickmines Great and Jamestown, Dublin

Archaeological monitoring took place of topsoil stripping for a road corridor extension and road bridge linking the Park retail centre and the Ballyogan Road. It was carried out in advance of the construction of a permitted mixed-use residential and commercial development at The Park, Carrickmines. The western portion of the proposed development is in the townland of Jamestown, while its eastern section lies within Carrickmines Great. The development site is east of a well-preserved section of the Pale Ditch Boundary (DU026-115), comprising a visible bank and double ditch and possibly one of the best surviving examples in south Dublin.
Several phases of archaeological investigation, monitoring and excavation had previously taken place within the permitted development (Ó Néill 2002, Tobin 2004, Bolger 2005). Excavation of the section of road that crossed a possible extension of the Pale Ditch was carried out in 2012 (Excavations 2012:187, Niall O’Flanagan). Testing was also carried out across the development area to establish if the Pale boundary followed the Jamestown/Carrickmines Great townland boundary line into the development area. It found no indication that the townland boundary or other boundaries on the site represented the Pale earthwork (Excavations 2017:286, Kim Rice). Testing concluded that it was likely that the natural elevated scarp to the south of the site, in conjunction with the Ballyogan Stream, may have substituted for the construction of more formal Pale defences in this area as suggested previously by Bolger (2005).
Monitoring of the road corridor area closest to the Pale boundary at the base of the valley exposed a build-up of organic-rich soil, up to 600mm in depth, resulting from natural weathering and the humus from the trees and bushes that up to recently occupied the lower reaches of the valley; some large root systems and equally large granite boulders were also removed from just below the surface in the same area. There were also large shallow pits located close to the top of the slope. The pits were modern in origin and contained demolition rubble, including Dolphin’s Barn yellow brick and domestic waste. There was no evidence of structures or soils of archaeological interest within the road corridor area monitored and no artefacts pre-dating the late 19th century were recovered or identified.
All works associated with the construction of the road are complete. Further archaeological monitoring will be required for the remainder of the development area.

Bolger, T. 2005. Archaeological Assessment, Carrickmines Great, County Dublin (05E0459). Unpublished report for Margaret Gowen and Co. Ltd.
O’Flanagan, N. 2012. Preliminary report of excavation at The Park, Carrickmines, on behalf of Park Developments Ltd. (09E0300). Unpublished report for O’Flanagan Consultants Ltd.
Ó Néill, J. 2002. Archaeological Assessment, Pale Boundary (DU016:115). Ballyogan Road, Jamestown, County Dublin (02E0535). Unpublished report for Margaret Gowen and Co. Ltd.
Rice, K. 2017. Archaeological Testing Report The Park, Carrickmines, Dublin 18, 17E0548. Unpublished report for Courtney Deery Heritage Consultancy Ltd.

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