2024:444 - Gerrardstown, Brownstown and Kinoud, Dublin

Licenced archaeological testing in the townlands of Gerrardstown, Brownstown and  Kinoud, Co. Dublin were undertaken in October 2024  in advance of  construction of the permitted solar farm (PSF). The site comprises of c.84.35ha and contains 17 agricultural fields.

A series of 126 linear test trenches extending for c.3,280m were opened across the footprint of the site. The excavation strategy includes testing of the PSF layout  with additional test trenches targeted on the results of the geophysical survey (Krahn 2022).

One area of potential archaeology was recorded in Field 16 at Gerrardstown townland in neighbouring trenches T120-T121 where series of linear features was noted traversing the two trenches. The features correspond with the pattern recorded during the survey as ‘a circular appearance and some linear features has been interpreted as possible archaeology’ (Krahn 2022, 10).  All the features were recorded between 0.45-0.6m depth under mid-brownish-grey clayey-sand topsoil. Investigative test boxes were excavated within three of the linear features:

• Test box 1 was excavated in a c.2.1m wide (north-east/south-west) orientated linear feature in trench T121. Excavated fill comprised of very indurated dark grey clayey-sand with some charcoal flecks and animal bones. Section of a cut revealed in the test box has a steep convex side and a slightly rounded base with maximum depth reached of 0.6m.
• Test box 2 was excavated at a poorly visible on the surface roughly north-east/south-west oriented and c.2m wide linear feature in the south-east limits of T120. The feature comprised of very indurated mid-brownish-grey clayey sand with small stone and some charcoal inclusions noted. The test box was excavated only to c.02m depth (no base was reached).
• Test box 3 was excavated at a north-west/south-east orientated c.2m wide linear feature in T120. Excavated material comprised of mixed dark grey and mid-brownish grey very indurated clayey-sand with small stones and charcoal. The test box revealed the steep sides and rounded base of the linear feature (depth c.0.3m).

A network of modern stone drains and old field boundaries was also noted within some of the test trenches but nothing of archaeological interest was noted in any other trenches and no artefacts were recovered during testing.

Reference:

Krahn, H. (2022) Archaeological Geophysical Survey. Gerrardstown Solar Farm, Co. Dublin. Report by Minerex Geophysics.