1998:147 - DUBLIN: 17–35 Carman's Hall, Dublin

Test-trenching was carried out in May at this development site to fulfil a condition of the planning permission. The site lies outside the medieval walled town of Dublin but within an area that was well settled by the 13th century. Trenching revealed the presence of a deposit of 'garden soil' of medieval date, which overlay subsoil, across the entire site. This was overlain by a post-medieval soil layer and the demolition levels of recent buildings.

As a result of the test-trenching a condition was made that all clearance of deposits on the site be undertaken under archaeological supervision. The rubble overburden was cleared off initially, and the underlying strata were cleared by machine using a grading bucket. Site clearance continued to mid-June. Few features of archaeological interest were found, and, with the exception of a single gully of medieval date, all features encountered were post-medieval.

Medieval soil was present over the entire site, except where it was removed by late features. The soil varied from 0.3m to 0.6m deep. The 'garden soil' is extremely inorganic and contains a few small fragments of animal bone, marine shell and a few sherds of pottery. The lowest level of the soil was similar to subsoil, while the upper level was darker with a higher humus content. The colour difference may also be due to percolation of coal particles from the overlying post-medieval soil. No features were evident in the medieval soil, and there were no furrows, cultivation ridges or other evidence of tillage in the soil or in the surface of the subsoil.

A thick deposit of soil of post-medieval date overlay the medieval soil. This was up to 0.6m thick, formed a distinct, well-defined horizon and was generally consistent over the entire site. It evidently pre-dates any large-scale building in this area and contained sherds of post-medieval pottery and animal bone.

25a Eaton Square, Terenure, Dublin 6W