County: Dublin Site name: DUBLIN: 28–29 Francis Street
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 96E0100
Author: Tim Coughlan, for Margaret Gowen and Co. Ltd.
Site type: Pit
Period/Dating: Medieval (AD 400-AD 1600)
ITM: E 714880m, N 733792m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.341875, -6.274835
An archaeological assessment was carried out on a site at 28–29 Francis Street on the corner of Dean Swift Square, Dublin, to fulfil a condition of the planning permission. The assessment occurred on 25 April 1996 and was based on the examination of four mechanically excavated test-trenches to investigate the nature and extent of archaeological material on the site.
The testing at the western end of the site revealed no soils, features or deposits of archaeological derivation. However, Trench 4 (9.6m long), orientated east-west on the eastern end of the site, revealed deposits of late post-medieval date, and a post-medieval pit was revealed at the eastern end of the trench. A large number of clay pipes were identified in the trench, suggesting the presence of a local clay pipe factory.
Two sherds of pottery, one medieval and one post-medieval, were recovered from Trench 4. The eastern end was truncated by a large pit containing some post-medieval pottery.
At the west end of the trench, an organic deposit overlying a small pit revealed a floor tile in an undisturbed medieval deposit dating from the early/mid-fourteenth century. Tiles with similar line-impressed decoration have been found in excavated contexts at Mellifont Abbey, Co. Louth, and at Trim Castle, Co. Meath. The excavation for foundations and services at the eastern side of the site was monitored by Helen Kehoe (see Excavations 1996, No. 93).
Rath House, Ferndale Rd. Rathmichael, Co. Dublin
