County: Dublin Site name: Huntstown and Johnstown, Old Ashbourne Road
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 21E0185
Author: Steve Hickey
Site type: Bivallate enclosure and vernacular structure
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 711650m, N 741400m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.410906, -6.320633
Archaeological test excavations were carried out in advance of a proposed development at a site in Huntstown and Johnstown townlands, Old Ashbourne Road, Co. Dublin. The development lands occupy an area of 12.8ha comprised of seven arable fields. The proposed development was in pre-planning stages.
No know listed structures or monuments are within the site. However, previous archaeological test excavations (19E0645, Bayley) informed by a geophysical survey (19R0159, Leigh) identified a medieval oval enclosure in the north of the site, measuring 42m x 50m; a partial outer enclosure was also identified.
As known archaeology was present within the site, a programme of pre-planning SI works (Phase 1) was monitored. No finds or features of an archaeological nature were uncovered during these works. These monitoring works were followed by a phase of test excavations (Phase 2), also under this licence, conducted to shed further light on the known buried archaeological environment, and to inform any further archaeological mitigation works that may be required prior to development works commencing. Between the two stages of testing (i.e. Phase 2 and the works carried out under licence 19E0645) a total of c.9.7% of the surface area of the site was tested with 137 test trenches.
The test excavations identified two individual sites recorded as Archaeological Areas (AA) 1–2. Of these, one of the sites corresponded with known geophysical anomalies and had been previously tested (19E0645, Bayley). This was the bivallate enclosure (AA1), which proved to be more substantial than initially suspected; the other site was a pre-Famine vernacular structure (AA2). Both sites were investigated to establish their nature and extent, recorded, with the existing below ground level features covered with heavy-duty polythene and backfilled.
Due to the location and scale of the proposed development and the extent of the on-site construction work necessary, it is considered that preservation in situ is not a viable option. It has been recommended that both sites (AA1–2) undergo full archaeological excavation, including a full measured survey and photographic record of the vernacular structure (AA2). In addition, archaeological monitoring of the proposed excavation works for an ESB powerline within Field 1 has also been recommended.
c/o AMS, Fahy's Road, Kilrush, Co. Clare
