1993:082 - DUBLIN: 33–34 Parliament St./5–7 Exchange St. Upr., Dublin

Excavation in advance of redevelopment was carried out over a period of 12 weeks from October-December of 1993. The site is located immediately west of what is generally believed to be the natural course of the river Poddle and is also west of the c.AD 1100 town wall. Given this rather strategic location this site is thought to form part of the eastern extent of the early Hiberno-Norse town.

Excavation was carried out in two separate trenches, the first of which measured 14m east-west x 6m north-south and was located at the eastern/Parliament St. end of the site. Excavation in this area was undertaken beneath the upstanding building and began at 2.4m beneath the present day level of Parliament St. which is 4.5m o.d. Extending from west to east a maximum depth of 1.45m-3m of archaeological deposits was excavated. This west-east slope is indicative of the natural ground level dropping off as it nears the side of the river Poddle. A less prominent slope in the natural ground level from south to north towards the river Liffey was also identified. At the eastern extremity of the trench, river gravels were identified together with the remains of a clay bank. Evidence for timber uprights on the outer river side of the bank were also identified. The bank was constructed on a bed of well preserved wattle and brushwood. Behind the bank on the landward side a number of post and wattle fences were identified (which are most probably property boundaries) together with large quantities of infill dump material. This trench was completely aceramic; however, a small assemblage of metal and bone finds were retrieved which so far indicate an 11th-century date.

Three metres west of this trench and fronting onto Exchange St. Upr. a second trench measuring 8m east-west x 12m north-south was excavated. Excavation in this area began at 5.16m o.d. and extending from north to south a maximum depth of 2m–2.35m of archaeological deposits were excavated. This slight northwards slope in the natural ground level towards the river Liffey reflects that exposed in the Parliament St. trench. A number of pits containing 12th and 13th-century pottery were identified, cut into the upper deposits. These deposits of c.1m depth were composed of predominantly impermeable clays into and upon which a number of hearths were exposed. Some of these hearths were very well constructed being both kerbed and lined and showed evidence for successive stages of use, while others were less well constructed and appeared to be used for more transient functions. However, little remained in situ, or indeed visible to yield any evidence for what these hearths would have been used for; post-excavation analysis may help to shed some light. Sealed beneath these clay layers a number of burnt structures were identified for which an 11th-century date is postulated based upon the finds assemblage which is composed of a substantial quantity of bone and bronze pins.

Due to safety restrictions, only a small area of the Exchange St. frontage was excavated. In this area no evidence for a street frontage was identified which suggests that if this is a medieval street it lies further west than its present day line.

Funding for the excavation was provided by the developers, Temple Bar Properties.

c/o 81 Upr. Leeson St., Dublin 4