1993:055 - DUBLIN: Bride St., Dublin

Following extensive testing of the site and despite minimal evidence of occupation, it was decided that a limited excavation should be carried out in advance of a housing development, funded by Dublin Corporation. The area excavated measured a maximum of 16.1m east-west by 14m north-south.

The archaeological evidence for the earliest phase of activity remains inconclusive. It is represented by a spread of charcoal and rubbish pits. The charcoal overlay deposits of clay which formed a 'mound' at the north end of the site. The presence of flecks of charcoal in the clays suggests that they were redeposited and not naturally occurring. Later pits had cut into the area to the south and consequently any continuation of these features, had such ever existed, no longer survived. Redeposited clays, c. 1.5m deep, overlay the charcoal and clay, which sloped to the east, and probably represented a levelling-up of the ground. No small finds were associated with these activities.

Above this and covering practically the whole site was a spread of redeposited yellow clay. The burial of a 16-20-year-old adolescent was discovered within this deposit. Unusually, the body was lying face down and was orientated north-south. Domestic/industrial activity also occurred at this level, represented by a hearth and spread of charcoal and burnt bones and a number of shallow cuts and pits. Stakeholes, running in a north-east/south-west direction, appeared to form a boundary between the burial and the other activity to the north. One pantile fragment was the only find associated with this activity.

A second burial occurred to the east of the site, which post-dated the other burial. This was the burial of an adult female, which lay in a supine position and was orientated east-west, conforming to Christian burial practice. The partial remains of another adult and a child were recovered in a disturbed context in the east of the site. It would appear that these burials were placed at the eastern end of a burial ground.

Despite the absence of a structural division, such as a fence, between the east and the west, a clear distinction was evident in the land use. To the east the burials were overlain by deep deposits of loose friable clay indicating the re-use of the burial ground for agricultural or horticultural purposes. To the west the heavy silty clays were clearly not cultivated. A number of rubbish pits were dug and metalworking activities were being carried on. Associated features included a hearth, a channel or chute which was possibly a run-off for molten metal, unexplained depressions and cuts, charcoal, slag and ash deposits. Locally manufactured and imported 12th- to 13th-century pottery was associated with these deposits.

77 Brian Rd., Marino, Dublin 3