1996:084 - DUBLIN: Davis Place, Dublin

Archaeological test-trenching was carried out for the purposes of a planning submission for the redevelopment of a site on Davis Place, off Thomas Davis Street South, which runs between Francis Street (west) and John Dillon Street (east). The site is located just outside the medieval walled town of Dublin and is on or close to the site of St Francis's Abbey, founded in 1233.

Archaeological assessments carried out by Andy Halpin in 1991 to the north of the present site, at the corner of Francis Street and Cornmarket, located the outer west edge of the ditch of the medieval town wall, which extended along the rear of Francis Street, producing material datable to the thirteenth to seventeenth centuries (Excavations 1991, 12–13). At 28–29 Francis Street organic material uncovered during a recent assessment contained medieval and post-medieval finds, including a medieval floor tile (see Excavations 1996, No. 92).

Only a small portion of the site was vacant and accessible for intrusive assessment. A single trench, 6m by 0.9m, oriented north-south, was mechanically excavated at the northern end of the proposed development area. Natural subsoil (yellow clay) was reached at a depth of 2.4m below present ground surface. The trench profile consisted almost entirely of black soil mixed with red brick, mortar and boulders, containing numerous animal bones. Four post-medieval features were revealed within this trench, two of which were east/west-orientated walls, one of red brick and one of roughly cut stone block and brick. Partial remains of a north-south block and brick wall with mortar and a sporadic spread of slabs and boulders were revealed at the base of the trench at the north. Nothing of archaeological significance was encountered in this trench. Further monitoring and excavation at this site will resume later in 1997 when the present standing buildings are removed from the site.

Rath House, Ferndale Rd. Rathmichael, Co. Dublin