2024:786 - Killakee and Montpellier Hill, Dublin

Twenty-six site investigation (SI) engineering test pits of varying sizes were monitored to the natural subsoil or bedrock. The original proposal was for 29 SI locations, but it was decided to reduce the quantity as some lay near known archaeological features. The SI works were carried out to inform the construction of the permitted Dublin Mountains Visitor Centre and trails at Killakee and Montpellier Hill in South County Dublin.

The general trench profile on the Mountpelier Hill side of the demesne comprised of woodland vegetation over dry humic compact soils with organic root and in some cases small to medium natural granite stone inclusions. In many cases natural granite rock was revealed at varying depths from 1m to 2m. There were little or no other inclusions or evidence for any archaeological material. Most of the test pits, excavated adjacent to trail paths, appeared to indicate a modern intentional build-up of the perimeter ground, to add support to the existing gravel trail path edges.

The general trench profile in Massey Woods located directly below on a downward slope across the main Public Road from Mountpelier Hill were similar to those excavated there and described above. The soil profile in Massy Wood was generally damper in composition with some water ingress noted in at least two of the test pits.

There was no evidence of any archaeological finds or deposits observed in any of the excavated test pits.