1997:107 - DUBLIN: 23 Camden Street Upper, Dublin

Archaeologica monitoring of soil removal took place at a development site at No. 23 Camden Street Upper, which is bounded by Harcourt Street and Charlotte's Way and where the site of an inn has been recorded by the Sites and Monuments Record. The proposed development involved the construction of a hotel with an underground carpark. A condition of the planning approval required that an archaeological test excavation be carried out at the site. This was undertaken by Georgina Scally in November 1996 (Excavations 1996, 20, 96E340) and involved the insertion and examination of six trenches, five of which were devoid of any archaeological features or soils.

Owing to the instability of the adjacent building, 'The Bleeding Horse' pub, part of the site was not accessible for the purposes of that test excavation. In consultation with the Heritage Services and the Dublin city archaeologist, it was considered appropriate that, rather than carrying out additional test excavation, the removal of the soil embankment which was necessary to facilitate the piling rig should be archaeologically monitored. This was carried out between 10 and 30 October 1997. Apart from slight modern disturbance at the top of the embankment there was no evidence for any archaeological soils or features in this part of the site.