County: Dublin Site name: DUBLIN BAY
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 01E0283
Author: Simon Ó Faoláin, Eachtra Archaeological Projects
Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 724990m, N 734006m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.341503, -6.123016
Eachtra Archaeological Projects were subcontracted by MAU Ltd for Dublin Corporation to monitor the excavation of a pipeline trench under construction across Dublin Bay for the acceptance of the new Sutton to Ringsend wastewater pipeline. This licence covered the initial submarine dredging of the diverted shipping channel using suction dredgers. Monitoring of dredging was carried out on a 24-hour basis divided into two 12-hour shifts. Works took place from 9 March to 27 April 2001. The types of dredgers utilised were of hopper-suction type.
Hopper-suction dredgers operate like a giant hoover, sucking up material from the seabed and depositing it in a storage hold. The hull of the vessel is hinged down the centre and can be parted to empty the dredged material when the vessel is over the dump site. Any solid material of sufficient size will become lodged in the drag-head, which is the part of the vessel which runs along the sea bottom sucking up silt and sand. Periodic inspection of the drag-head allows the recovery of any archaeological material lodged there.
Of the 109 finds recovered, 105 were timbers, two were composite objects of timber and metal, and two were of leather. Although many of the timbers have been badly damaged, many are still recognisable as structural parts of wooden vessels such as strakes, scarves, keel and false keel fragments, futtocks and floor timbers. Many of the timbers bear treenails and/or brass bolts.
3 Canal Place, Tralee, Co. Kerry
