1993:064 - DUBLIN: Coombe Relief Rd., Dublin

The work was undertaken for Dublin Corporation, Roads Division, in advance of the final planning of the route of the proposed Coombe Relief Rd. Seventeen sites were earmarked for assessment initially. Six of these sites could not be assessed however, as they were still in use.

All trenches measured 1m in width and were dug by mechanical excavator.

Site 1: Triangular area at junction of Patrick St. and Kevin St.
Three trenches were excavated. No archaeological deposits occurred. During previous road widening the area had been cleared to subsoil and filled with hardcore.

Site 2:124-126 The Coombe
Not available for assessment.

Site 3: 108-114 The Coombe
Six trenches were excavated. Subsoil was reached at 2.15m-2.3m below modern ground level (bmgl). Modern fills occurred to 1m-1.3m. Green garden soils occurred between 1.1m-1.3m and 2.15m-2.3m bmgl. This deposit contained medieval pottery.

Site 4: Weaver St.
Not available for assessment.

Site 5: South side of junction of Ardee St. and Ardee Row
Not available for assessment.

Site 6: Timber Yard, north side of junction of Ardee St. and Ardee Row
Four trenches were excavated. Subsoil occurred at between 1.9m and 2.9m bmgl.

Modern cellar construction had removed all deposits to subsoil at the north and western side of the site, with the exception of a number of drainage gulleys. These were filled with grey silt. No datable finds were uncovered from the fills but they are likely to be of medieval date.

Elsewhere green garden soils occurred between 1.4m–1.8m and 2.1m–2.6 bmgl. This deposit contained medieval pottery at its base and 17th-century pottery in its upper levels.

Site 7: North side of junction of Ardee St. and Cork St.
One trench was excavated. Subsoil occurred at 1.6m–3m bmgl depending on the depths of modern cellars. At the north end of the site part of a north-south extending watercourse was uncovered. Its base lay at 3.1m and contained layers of silt and gravel but no datable finds. Its upper fills contained 17th-century pottery. This watercourse is part of the new course of the Poddle river which was diverted through this area in the late 12th century.

Site 8: South side of junction between Ardee St. and Cork St.
Two trenches were excavated. Subsoil occurred at 0.3m–1.3m bmgl and was overlain by 18th-century and later deposits and features.

Site 9: Dublin Corporation Housing Maintenance Yard, Cork St.
Two trenches were excavated. Subsoil occurred at 0.2m–2m bmgl and was overlain by modern cellars.

Site 10: Vacant area in front of Chamber St. Flats, Cork St.
Three trenches were excavated. Subsoil occurred at 0.8m–1.3m bmgl and was overlain by 18th-century and later features and deposits.

Site 11:South side of junction of Cork St. and Ormond St.
A single trench was excavated. Subsoil was reached at 1.2m bmgl and was overlain by modern deposits. At the north end of the site a watercourse, whose base lay at 1.8m bmgl occurred. It was filled with grey silt containing 17th- and 18th-century pottery.

Site 12: Cork St.
Not available for assessment.

Site 13: North side of junction between Cork St. and Marrowbone Lane
One trench was excavated. Subsoil was reached at between 1.1m and 1.6m bmgl and was overlain by modern deposits. At the north end of the site a 0.65m wide gulley whose base lay at 1.35m bmgl occurred. It was filled by grey silt that contained no datable finds.At the south end of the site a pit filled by similar material containing 18th-century pottery occurred. Its base lay at 1.95m bmgl.

At the centre of the site a large stone-lined pit which held water was found. Its base lay at 3m bmgl and it was filled by layers of silt and organic material that all contained 18th-century pottery.

Site 14: South-west corner of junction between Cook St. and Donore Ave.
One trench was excavated. Subsoil was reached at 0.8m bmgl and was overlain by modern deposits.

Sites 15 & 16: Cook St.
Not available for assessment.

Site 17:"Back of the Pipes", Dolphin's Barn
Two trenches were excavated. Subsoil occurred at 1.1m and was overlain by 18th-century material.At the south end of the site part of a watercourse was located. Its base lay at 2.2m bmgl. It was filled by layers of grey silt and organic material containing twigs and shells but no datable finds.

A second smaller watercourse was found at the north side of the site. Its base lay at 1.8m and it was also filled by grey silt.

The watercourse at the south side of the site would appear to be part of the medieval city watercourse which runs through this area on its way to the City Basin. Though no datable finds were recovered from its fills it is probably of 13th-century date.

Conclusion
West of Ardee St., with the exception of the medieval watercourses, no deposits of archaeological interest were encountered. This may be a result of the location of the sites—on the immediate streetfront—where large 18th-century and later buildings occurred. The construction of these would have removed earlier deposits. It could also be a reflection of the distance of these sites from the medieval town.

East of Ardee St. the sites assessed extended further into the backs of the plots fronting onto the street. The now familiar green garden soil occurred on many sites and attests that medieval and post-medieval farming and gardening was taking place in this area.

15 St. Brigid's Road Upper, Drumcondra, Dublin 9