2010:271 - Leinster House, Merrion Row, Dublin, Dublin

Monitoring took place at the Leinster House complex at Merrion Row, Dublin 2. The new development involved the replacement of an existing corridor between the 1966 block and the engineering block, and the provision of a ramped access. The works included the removal of an old concrete corridor, concrete foundations, the diversion of services, as well as the construction of a new ramp. All this area was found to have been backfilled in c. 1966 and no archaeological levels were noted. A second excavation, however, in the front lawn of Leinster House and connected with the erection of a large Christmas tree, did locate post-medieval archaeological levels. The trench measured 2m2 by 1m in depth and was centrally placed within the lawn, in front (to the south) of the memorial monument. Unexpectedly, a band of organic material was identified lying between 0.5m and 0.6m below present ground level, measuring approximately 0.4m in depth. This was a rich organic deposit, which contained charcoal, animal bone and shell, along with brick fragments and mortar. The animal-bone fragments were relatively large, suggesting this deposit did not form part of an introduced ‘cultivation soil’ (where organic refuse was mixed into soil to provide fertilisation). A collection of pottery was also retrieved and this included Sgrafitto (late 17th century in date) and glazed red earthenware. Also found were an iron fragment, brownware, purple slate and several clay-pipe stems.
The remains of a small refuse pit were identified in the south-west corner, lying 0.8m beneath the present ground level. This was oval in shape and was orientated north–south and measured 0.8m in length by 0.8m by at least 0.2m in width by 0.15m in depth. The pit was filled with loose black organic material, which contained charcoal, animal bone and shell. In addition to the main pit, three smaller trenches (for lighting) were excavated around the perimeter of the garden, one on the northern side and two on the southern. All measured 0.3m2 and were excavated to 0.6m in depth. Each trench exposed the same dark-brown organic layer located in the main pit, suggesting that this band of material, which is rich in cultural artefacts, extends across the eastern side of Leinster Lawns at roughly the same level, lying between 0.5m and 0.6m below present ground level.
The deposits are most likely to be associated with habitation in the immediate vicinity, presumably the houses that fronted on to Merrion Row. Unfortunately, no actual structures were uncovered (probably because of the size of the trenches) and, as a result, it is difficult to establish whether or not this represents occupation in situ, which must have pre-dated the construction of Leinster House in 1745. This would suggest a ‘missing’ phase of domestic habitation (as identified elsewhere in Dublin, especially at Trinity College, along College Green), comprising brick houses built by Dutch and Flemish refugees from the late 17th century onwards but gone by 1745. Alternatively, the material may simply have been used as infill material, although the condition of the artefacts suggests that this soil was not turbated.