1960:012 - St John’s Road West, Islandbridge, Dublin 8, Dublin

In February 1960 human remains were discovered during construction work at St John’s Road, near Islandbridge, Dublin.⁷⁷ A bridge over the railway was being constructed by Dublin Corporation and, given its proximity to the Scandinavian burials at Islandbridge, the site was visited by Dr Raftery and Dr Lucas. The bones were discovered in a square shaft approximately 1.5m by 1.5m in plan. The human remains were recovered in the digger bucket, so it was not possible for the finders to establish the depth at which they had originally lain. There appeared to be general agreement, however, that they lay in ‘buff-coloured’ soil below the road surface and fill layer, c. 0.5m thick. Approximately two weeks later, on 23 June, further human remains were noticed, and again the site was visited. This burial too had been removed by the time of Raftery’s visit, but according to the finders the body lay extended with the head to the east, at a depth of c. 0.46m. No information was available as to the disposition of the feet or arms. None of the bone appears to have been retained.

77. The site of the burials was not marked on the map but seems to have been located near the junction of St John’s Road West and South Circular Road, and therefore the approximate IGR would be 312800 233940. SMR DU018-302——.