1992:060 - DUBLIN: 'SS Michael and John's Church', Essex St West, Dublin

A limited excavation was carried out in September 1992 under the vaults of the 19th-century Catholic church which is the site for a proposed Viking Museum/Exhibition within the Temple Bar area. The development is being sponsored by Bord Fáilte and Temple Bar Properties. The excavation followed a series of test trenches which were cut into the basement of the church, the adjoining yard, and a car park facing Exchange St West lying directly to the east of the church, in June 1992.

The rest trenches in the crypt revealed the remains of a substantial earlier structure probably belonging to the Smock Alley Theatre built originally in 1662. The bulk of the remaining mortared walls appear to dare from 1735 when it was reconstructed. One of the walls was tested for possible Viking origins as it was considerably larger than the others, and in addition, appeared to be aligned with the early 12th-century city wall uncovered during the Wood Quay excavations. The wall sat upon a silty clay containing Saintonge pottery indicating a 13th/14th-century date. The layer was disturbed, however, and contained a sherd of 18th-century Black Ware suggesting that the wall may have been constructed in 1735.

A machine-cut test trench 4.7m in depth in the yard of the church revealed a considerable depth of material ranging from 18th-century vaulting to a black organic material probably dating to the Hiberno-Norse period. This was recovered 3.2m below the surface. The trench in the car park revealed a similar organic material 2.7m below the surface but the testing had to be terminated at this point. The Viking Museum project is ongoing and it is likely that some more work will be required on the site.

ADS., Power House, Pigeon House Harbour, Dublin 4