1993:098 - DUBLIN: Presentation Convent, George's Hill, Oxmantown, Dublin

The site is located north of the river Liffey near the fruit markets and within 200m of St Mary's Abbey. Permission was granted to develop the site for public authority housing following archaeological testing.

Ten test trenches were dug throughout the site. Most of these revealed the existence of post-medieval occupation above natural levels. Two, however, recorded the presence of medieval occupation within a 7m x 9m area. Closer examination of the vertical section of one of the test trenches showed at least two stratified layers of medieval occupation. It was decided to carry out a minor excavation in order to determine the nature of these occupation layers.

From this, four main layers of occupation were revealed. The lowest level contained a mottled orange layer within which was contained a thick lens of charcoal. Local glazed, hand built and cooking wares provided a date from the late 12th century to early 13th century. This was overlaid by the main occupation layer of mottled green yellow clay. This level contained a cobbled layer or walkway. Pottery consisted of local and North French wares dated to the 13th century. Above this lay a mottled light brown clay containing pottery of late 12th- to mid-13th-century date. This level also contained a sterile yellow clay layer of redeposited subsoil. Contemporary with this was a thick layer of gravel which also contained local wares and one sherd of Saintonge green glazed ware dated to the mid-13th century. Eighty-five bone fragments were also recovered. Species included cattle, pig, sheep/goat. In addition, fish and bird as well as flat oyster and edible periwinkle were recorded.

No other features or evidence of buildings were found.

41 Parnell Rd., Harold's Cross, Dublin 12