1999:271 - SMITHFIELD: Phoenix Street North/Stable Lane (Phase 1), Dublin

Archaeological excavations were carried out on this site over sixteen weeks ending in March 1999. Audrey Gahan carried out a second phase of excavation at a later stage (see No. 272 Excavations 1999). A series of nine ditches of medieval and post-medieval date, a number of post-medieval drains, medieval and post-medieval pits, and two wells were recorded.Four areas were excavated in Phase 1: Area 1 (11m x 24m), Area 2 (8m x 8m), Area 3 (8m x 15m) and Area 4 (6m x 11m). A link trench was also excavated between Areas 1 and 3 to ascertain the relationship between the archaeology in them.

Area 1
A series of three gullies, one of which is dated to the post-medieval period by the inclusion of red brick in its fills, three possibly medieval ditches and a pit were identified in this area. A considerable depth (up to 1m) of archaeological material, albeit somewhat truncated, survived beneath the 18th-century basements.

It is unclear what purpose the ditches served. They may have been used as part of an overall water management system. It is unlikely that they served as linear pits as the fills were quite consistent in depth and nature throughout their length. The fact that successive ditches survive along similar axes in similar locations may indicate their use as property boundaries. This may be supported by the presence of the post-and-wattle fence, which would have proven too insubstantial to have acted as a revetment but would have been sufficient to demarcate a property line.

The finds from this area included shroud pins, coins, a possibly 14th/15th-century silver merchant's signature ring, possible metalworking tools, fabric, leather, metal and leather composite artefacts, chain links, nails, medieval line-impressed tile, pottery, animal bone and slag. This was the only area from which fabric was identified.

Area 2
No archaeological features were identified in this area, but distinct post-medieval and medieval contexts were identified. A large quantity of metal artefacts was recovered, a percentage of which would certainly have been lost without the use of a metal-detector on site. However, this method of find retrieval may have biased the archaeological nature in favour of metallic artefacts.

Area 3
The archaeology recorded in this area included three brick-lined drains, a well, a gully, a metalled surface, a brick- and stone-lined pit, a series of post- and stake-holes, three north-south-oriented ditches and an east-west-oriented ditch. A number of coins, shroud pins and an amber bead are included in the finds recovered from this area.The post-medieval drains and well may indicate a level of industrial activity on the site. The nature of this activity is as yet unclear. Historical research will, it is hoped, throw further light on the land use in this area in the post-medieval period.

The sequence of north-south-orientated ditches is interesting in that it displays continuity from the medieval period through to the post-medieval. Their use is unclear, and, like the ditches recorded in Area 1, they may have served as part of an overall water management/land reclamation scheme or as property boundaries.

Area 4
The archaeology recorded in this area included an east-west-orientated ditch, two north-south-running linear features and two pits, which yielded probable medieval dates. From the post-medieval period a curvilinear feature, which may have formed part of an enclosing ditch, and a north-south-orientated red brick-lined drain were excavated. As with the rest of the site, no direct evidence for medieval habitation occurred in Area 4. A more definitive explanation for the medieval ditches and linear features than possible water management courses or property boundaries may be uncovered during further excavation.

Finds
The finds recovered from the excavations include leather, fabric, medieval line-impressed tile, pottery (medieval and post-medieval), shroud pins, coins, a silver seal ring, possible silver ingots, nails, slag, bronze mounts, musket balls, possible strap tags, chapes and blades.

The find retrieval strategy required by the licensing authorities was somewhat unusual in that all possibly medieval deposits were subject to examination with a metal-detector. This method resulted in the recovery of vast quantities of metal but has significant implications for post-excavation analysis and interpretation of the site.

Windsor House, 11 Fairview Strand, Dublin 3