1997:108 - DUBLIN: 15 Capel Street, Dublin

Archaeological test-trenching was carried out at 15 Capel Street, Dublin 2, between 16 and 18 April 1997. The site is located in the vicinity of the 12th-century Cistercian abbey of St Mary's. Speed's map of Dublin (1610) shows the site within the southern end of the walled lands of St Mary's Abbey. Capel Street itself is first recorded in 1679, and the foundation of Capel Street occurred at the end of the 17th century, which marked a period of expansion in the city of Dublin. The archaeological assessment was undertaken to identify whether there were any indications of medieval activity at the site or whether there were any remains of the abbey or associated buildings.

Three test-trenches were excavated by hand, located centrally along the length of the basement of the existing building. Trench 1 was oriented in an east-west direction, measured 3.5m in length and was excavated to a depth of 0.428m OD. The deposits consisted of disturbed sandy material mixed with red brick and animal bone, underlain by a gritty brown clay which produced glass, animal bone, oyster shell, clay pipes and post-medieval pottery. This material was underlain by a thin layer of slate, which overlay the natural cobbles of the bed of the River Liffey. These deposits ranged in date from the early 18th to the late 19th century.

Trench 2 was oriented in an east-west direction, measured 1.5m in length and was excavated to a depth of 0.434m OD. The deposits in this trench were consistent with those of Trench 1.

Trench 3 was oriented in an east-west direction, measured 4.8m in length and was excavated to a depth of 0.422m OD. The upper deposits consisted of disturbed sandy material mixed with red brick and butchered animal bone. These deposits were underlain by a cobbled stone floor with a depth of 0.06m, sloping slightly from the west to the east. Two sherds of gravel-tempered ware were found overlying this cobbled floor, but were not in context. The cobbled floor was underlain by a gritty brown deposit (0.48–0.9m) similar to the deposits in Trenches 1 and 2. This overlay a lens of charcoal which produced one sherd of pottery, dating to the late 17th or early 18th century, and leather offcuts. At the east end of the trench a limestone wall with a mortar facing, measuring 0.46m in width, was uncovered. Underlying these deposits was the fine compact riverine silt and the natural bed of the river (1.3m +), devoid of archaeological material.

There is no evidence to suggest medieval activity on this site. The main activity, as indicated by the range of pottery and clay pipes, dates from the second half of the 17th to the early 19th century. No further archaeological excavation was deemed necessary.

32 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2