County: Dublin Site name: DUBLIN: Geneval's Tower
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 93E0128
Author: Margaret Gowen
Site type: Historic town
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 715825m, N 734698m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.349805, -6.260308
This small excavation was carried out both in and to the south of the area excavated by Claire Walsh and Alan Hayden (No. 59 ). It was carried out as enabling works prior to the construction of an elaborate sub-surface, crypt-like, viewing structure.
In order to prepare the site for the earth-retaining walls of the viewing enclosure, some of the 'steps' at the edges of the above excavation cutting had to be reduced in level. Also the unexcavated, southern portion of the tower interior had to be reduced in level by approximately 1m.
The results of the exercise yielded no new features, but it provided an opportunity to expose more of the tower walls and the northern face of the pre-Norman wall for photography and detailed elevation drawings. Also, features revealed in the earlier excavation were followed and recorded, in particular a small portion of a foundation structure abutting the tower, thought to possibly be the foundations of Geneval's Inns.
The finds included pottery and floor tiles, iron nails and rivets, a small copper alloy 'boss' and several fragments of leather, one worked.
The results will be integrated with Alan Hayden and Claire Walsh's excavation report.
Rath House, Ferndale Rd., Rathmichael, Co. Dublin
