1992:056 - DUBLIN: Dean St/Patrick St, Dublin

In January 1992 the writer conducted an archaeological assessment on behalf of Dublin Corporation on a site bounded by Dean St and Patrick St, Dublin. The site lies within the Zone of Archaeological Interest outlined in the Dublin City Development Plan at the junction of 2 medieval streets. Patrick St was always the main route into and out of Dublin on the south; Dean St, as it presently exists, is a 19th-century creation but a much smaller street, known as Cross Poddle, existed here in medieval times. The area was dominated throughout the middle ages by the ecclesiastical complex which included St Patrick's Cathedral and the archbishop's palace of Holy Sepulchre, on the east side of Patrick St. The available information suggests that the west side of Patrick St was occupied from at latest the 13th century and that activity in both medieval and post-medieval periods was largely industrial (e.g. milling, dyeing, tanning, etc.) related to the presence of a course of the River Poddle which ran along this side of the street. Although, because of road widening, the present street frontages of the site are set back very considerably from the medieval frontages, some archaeological material derived from this medieval and post-medieval suburban settlement was to be expected.

The method of assessment was the opening of 5 machine-dug trenches, each approximately 1m wide and between 5m and 10m in length. A consistent archaeological picture was observed throughout the area investigated, apart from the extreme south-west and north-east corners of the site where no archaeological material appears to be present. Relatively modern building debris extends to between 0.6m and 1.8m below present ground level, while undisturbed natural boulder clay occurs between 1 m and 2.1 m below present ground level. Between these 2 horizons a grey-green silt layer 0.6m-1.2m thick occurs. It seems to be of 13th/14th-century date and probably represents material dumped for surface consolidation along the bank of the river; its archaeological importance is probably relatively limited. However, a series of pits and other cut features noted below this layer are likely to be of greater importance. These are also probably of 13th/14th-century date and may derive from industrial activity along the Poddle. A number of features later than the silt layer, such as a barrel-pit and a timber-lined pit, are probably relatively recent but may be of archaeological or industrial archaeological interest.

5 Yellowmeadows Ave., Clondalkin, Dublin 22