South
Dublin County Council would not comment on the dig, and local councillors could
not get answers to their questions on the project.
But
sources have now revealed that the site, on the Scholarstown Road close to
Knocklyon, is of major significance.
“It
is believed this was a Bronze Age burial site, and that people from the Iron
Age used the site as a shrine or place of some sort of place of gathering,” the
source said.
Evidence
of a ring fort was also uncovered by archaeologists, the source added.
The
bodies of an estimated 60 people from the Bronze Age have been found during an
archaeological dig on land in Templeogue where former Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave
lived.
The
land, which is earmarked for housing development, is also believed to have
evidence of Iron Age occupation and a ring fort and is being looked on as a
very significant historical find.
The
Bronze Age in Ireland lasted from about 2000BC to 500BC. The Iron Age followed,
lasting until around 400AD.
Former
Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave lived in a humble bungalow called
Beech Park on the 16 acres of prime residential zoned land until his death in
2017 at the age of 97.
Last
year it was reported that property developers Ardstone Capital were understood
to have entered into exclusive talks with property agents JLL with a view to
acquiring the potentially lucrative site for around €32m.
Property
industry sources estimate the grounds of Mr Cosgrave's former home could
accommodate about 200 houses.
Independent.ie
reported how the excavations being carried out on the land were a mystery to
locals since work began last October.
Reacting
to the news that the site is believed to be a large Bronze Age burial site,
local Independent councillor Deirdre
O’Donovan said it was an exciting development.
“This
is so exciting, and my main thoughts now are how do we preserve this,” she told
Independent.ie.
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