County: Dublin Site name: Roebuck, University College Dublin
Sites and Monuments Record No.: n/a Licence number: 21E0113
Author: Liam Coen c/o Archer Heritage
Site type: Testing, no archaeology found
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 718200m, N 729700m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.304384, -6.226532
Test-excavations took place on 4-5 May 2021 in fulfilment of a condition of planning permission. Seven trenches were excavated using a 14-tonne mechanical excavator equipped with a 1.8m grading bucket under constant archaeological supervision. A total of 358 linear metres (644 sq. m, 6.2% of the total site area) were excavated. Adjustments to the Method Statement trench layout were made to preserve access, avoid a buried service trench and due to the impact of the roots from recently removed trees.
The natural boulder clay consisted of an orange/brown limestone till.
Trenches 2 and 3 were located in an area that had been subject to significant construction activity over many years. This is likely to have included machine traffic, possible excavations and the storage of construction materials and spoil. No undisturbed topsoil was encountered along these trenches while natural subsoil was not encountered at points even at depths of 1.2m beyond which the trench could not have been closely inspected for health and safety reasons.
The eastern part of the site was relatively undisturbed apart from a shallow hard surface in the south-eastern corner.
No archaeological material, deposits or features of archaeological significance were encountered during the test excavation.
Unit 8 Beat Centre, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin
