1997:127 - DUBLIN: 10 Exchange Street Upper/1 Essex Street, Dublin

The site is located on the western shoreline of the River Poddle just inside the north-east corner of the walled town at the intersection of the c. 1100 wall with the later 13th-century wall. In 1996 in situ archaeological deposits were exposed during test excavation in the front portion of this site (Excavations 1996, 23–4). At this time no access was possible to the rear of the site. In 1997 this rear portion was cleared and archaeological deposits were uncovered across the 10m x 6m area. As a result, a 1m depth of deposits was excavated (to the formation level for the proposed development). A test-pit excavated to natural established that a further 1.5m of archaeological deposits remain in situ.

Four phases of activity were identified. Phase 1 consisted of a complex build-up of gravel, silt, clay, shell and organic deposits exposed in the test-pit. The limited area in which these deposits were identified precludes their full interpretation and dating but they are thought to belong to the 10th/11th century. Part of a post-and-wattle fence, orientated parallel to the river, was also uncovered. The deposits in the test-pit sloped eastwards towards the river while those in the remaining, unexcavated part of the site sloped westwards, suggesting that they formed part of a substantial bank-like feature.

Phase 2 consisted of a sequence of up to four layers of roughly laid stone. A stone-lined drain, exposed for a length of 6m, was set into the uppermost of these layers.

Phase 3 consisted of a build-up of stony clay and gravel working surfaces within which a number of hearths and two stone-lined pits were identified. A single heat-shattered stone spanned the c. 0.8m width of one of the pits and had clearly been used for metalworking; a worn hammerstone was recovered in the vicinity, as were a number of corroded iron fragments. A smaller pit, filled at the base with glass fragments (of as yet unknown date), was cut into one side of the pit.

Phase 4 consisted of an up to 0.8m depth of clays located on the western side for between 1m and 1.5m but extending into the section face.

Three copper-alloy pins, four bone pins, a bone toggle and four flint flakes were recovered from Phase 2. A small assemblage of 12th/13th-century pottery was recovered from Phases 3 and 4.

Supporting the party wall between 1 Essex Street and 10 Exchange Street Upper, a section of the 13th-century medieval wall was identified. A trench excavated on the inner side of the wall established that it stood four courses high (0.86m) and was constructed on river silts and gravels at 2.06m OD (Malin Head). Further excavation of the site is due to be carried out in 1998.

81 Upper Leeson Street, Dublin 4