1969:016 - DUBLIN: Winetavern Street, Dublin

The excavation began in February 1969 of the area between Christ Church Cathedral and the river Liffey which will eventually be the site of the new Civic Offices. As in High Street, the late medieval strata had been removed by the construction of the Georgian cellars, but deposits several feet thick remain dating from the ninth to the fourteenth centuries. Preservation of organic remains and of timber structures is excellent; houses, causeways, and timber-lined pits—possibly cellars?—have been uncovered. Notable discoveries have included a well-built wall, probably part of the city wall; a 9^th or 10^th century stave built house; several Hiberno-Norse coins of the 11th century; sketches of two ships incised on planks found in 11th century deposits, quantities of fine imported French pottery of the 13th century and interesting examples of pre-Norman glazed wares; and great numbers of small finds of all sorts.