1996:098 - DUBLIN: 166–171 James Street/6–24 Bow Lane West, Dublin

Archaeological test excavations were undertaken at James Street/Bow Lane West in September 1996. The sites are separated by a steeply sloped embankment or scarp, about 10m high. The James Street site is L-shaped in plan with maximum dimensions of 60m north-south by 60m east-west. Eight trial-trenches, 1.25m wide, were mechanically excavated.Trenches 1–6 revealed 0.5m of rubble overburden from the most recent phase of demolition at the site. The rubble overlay 1m of silt and sand-based deposits with moderate inclusions of roots, brick, mortar, flecks of charcoal and lime, and occasional cobbles, pebbles, slate, shell, animal bone, and post-medieval/modern pottery sherds. These deposits overlay a natural light brown clay containing pebbles. One possibly medieval pottery sherd was recovered from disturbed upper levels of the natural clay in Trench 5.

Trenches 7–8 were located at the north-west end of the site, an area which had been occupied by a planted beer garden and barbecue area prior to testing. A light brown silty clay, 0.5m thick, with moderate inclusions of pebbles, cobbles, brick, slate, plastic and modern pottery sherds and glass fragments overlay concrete surfaces, 0.1 m thick, and silt and sand-based deposits (0.5m thick) similar to those encountered in Trenches 1–6. In Trench 7 the stratigraphy had been truncated by a large pit which was filled with rubble and modern debris. It was clear that this pit had been excavated as part of the recent beer garden development; the excavated soil was probably redeposited as topsoil and the pit was then used to bury surface rubble.

Four trial-trenches were excavated at the Bow Lane West site. Underlying the site's concrete and tarmacadam surfaces was 0.45m of clay and rubble overburden. The rubble overlay a disturbed light brown clay with moderate inclusions of flecks of charcoal and lime, 0.3m thick. This overlay the natural. A circular stone-lined well (1.1m in diameter and 4.5m deep) was uncovered at the west end of the site, and wall foundations composed of brick and rubble limestone were encountered at the east end of the site. The extent of the demolished buildings at the east was apparent from the broken wall sections visible in the site's boundary walls. Concrete foundations and a brick-lined pit were also noted. No archaeological deposits or features were encountered. The existing ground level at Bow Lane West appears to have been reduced when the retaining wall was erected along the site's southern boundary.

Rath House, Ferndale Rd, Rathmichael, Co. Dublin