County: Dublin Site name: Ballyman, Old Connaught, Shankill, Co. Dublin and Fassaroe, Co. Wicklow
Sites and Monuments Record No.: DU026-064 Licence number: 22E0320, 23D0069, 23R0170
Author: Donald Murphy, Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit
Site type: Burnt mound pit and a trough
Period/Dating: Bronze Age (2200 BC-801 BC)
ITM: E 724522m, N 719247m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.209044, -6.135819
Investigations associated with the Old Connaught to Woodbrook Water Supply Scheme (ITM 723850, 719815) were undertaken within the townlands of Ballyman, Old Connaught and Shankill, Co. Dublin, and Fassaroe, Co. Wicklow.
The water supply scheme was subject to a number of previous archaeological assessments. These included a screening report and geophysical survey (16R0195) in 2016, monitoring of site investigations (17E0027) in 2017 and 2018. The scheme was subsequently updated and realigned with sections changed. In 2022, Donald Murphy of Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit (ACSU) was appointed to carry out all necessary archaeological mitigation measures. The site was subject to archaeological investigations (22E0320), a wade survey (23D0069) with the use of a metal detector (23R0170), and an assessment of the boundary wall associated with Vallombrosa House (RPS 1886).
Features of archaeological significance were identified and excavated in the field to the north of Ballyman Road and south of Ferndale Road, in Old Connaught townland (ITM 724522, 719247). These comprised a pit (C3) and a trough (C5), both clay-lined and filled with burnt mound material. Hazel (Corylus) charcoal recovered from an environmental sample (Sample 2) taken from the main fill (C6) of trough C5 was sent for AMS (Accelerator Mass Spectrometry) dating, which returned a result of 3830 ± 30 BP (ICA 14C-8195), giving a 2-sigma (95% probability) calibrated date range of 2460–2140 BC. This places the site in the Chalcolithic (2450–2200 BC)/Early Bronze Age (2200–1600 BC).
A wade survey with the use of metal detector (23D0069; 23R0170) of the County Brook Stream/Ballyman Stream/Glenmunder Stream was carried out at two locations, at Ballyman (ITM 723732, 718593) and at Old Connaught (ITM 724497, 718146). No features of archaeological significance were exposed.
An assessment of the boundary wall at Thornhill Road was carried out following the determination that it constitutes the boundary treatment of the Protected Structure and is contained within the curtilage of Vallambrosa House (RPS 1886). The assessment recorded the current condition of the wall, including the elevation and a photographic survey. The wall was originally to be impacted by the proposed works; however, the route was realigned and only the southern, previously modified section of the wall, near the stream, was impacted.
All archaeological features exposed on site were fully excavated and resolved.
Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co Louth.
