1996:072 - DUBLIN: Back Lane/Lamb Alley, Dublin

A pre-development excavation commenced at the above site in mid-October 1996 and is expected to continue until March 1997. The excavation area consists of a 6m-wide trench running east-west for approximately 32m between Back Lane and Lamb Alley. The archaeological deposits were sealed by 0.4m (average) of overburden with only minor cellar disturbance. The entire excavation area is to be excavated to subsoil.

To date, a number of features have been recorded.

(i) At the west end of the site are a series of redeposited clays and subsoils, possibly associated with an early (HibernoNorse) bank.

(ii) In the east of the cutting, a number of post-and-wattle structures have been recorded in rich organic deposits that appear to date, on the evidence of the pottery remains, from the twelfth century.

(iii) Overlying the deposits at (ii) was a large stave-built house (9m by c. 4.5m) of (approx.) thirteenth-century date. The house was constructed with large oak base-plates into which large squared posts, which would probably have supported the roof, were inserted. Smaller posts were also used to support the thin plank walls. Two internal divisions separated the house into three areas: a large front room containing a hearth, a smaller back room, and a passageway that ran alongside this second room. The aisle was linked to a stone and wood pathway which led to a cesspit at the rear of the house.

(iv) A large (6m by 7m) sunken structure was identified cut into the bank material in the west of the trench. This appears to be contemporary with the stave-built structure to the east. Its foundations were constructed of large oak base-plates which were placed on the north, west and south sides of the structure. A series of large oak posts were set into mortices in the base-plates, with oak planking running outside these posts (the planks only survive on the west side). Along the east-west central line of the structure were placed three pad-stones on which large posts would have been set to provide internal roof supports. The entranceway was located at the north-east corner and measured approximately 2m by 1m.

(v) Two very fine timber-lined pits were recorded in the west of the trench, probably dating to the fourteenth century. They measured 2.4m by 2m by 1.7m deep and 2m by 1.8m by 1.7m deep. Their original function is unclear, but the larger pit was finally used as a cesspit.

(vi) A number of post-medieval drains, pits, barrels, cisterns, pathways and wall foundations were also identified.

It is anticipated that further post-and-wattle structures will be revealed in the eastern half of the cutting before the excavation is completed.

Rath House, Ferndale Rd, Rathmichael, Co. Dublin