2013:617 - St Patrick's Cathedral (nave), Dublin, Dublin

Work was carried out within the nave of St Patrick’s cathedral, Dublin 8. This consisted of a service trench, orientated north-south, at the western end of the nave, which was positioned within the northern doorway passageway (just west of the North Transept). Thus it straddled the line of the northern wall of the nave. The trench measured 6m in length by 0.7m in width and was between 0.3m and 0.5m in depth. It was excavated by hand.

No archaeological deposits were found other than a loose rubble infill sealing a cast-iron pipe, which ran the length of the passageway.

Stratigraphic sequence
0.00m – 19mm: Tiled floor
10mm - 0.27m: Modern concrete layer
0.27m - 0.4m: Mixed rubble deposit composed of limestone chips within a dark grey rubble mortar. The stones varied in size, some measuring 0.3m by 0.2m and 0.15m while others measured 0.15m by 0.1m.

The stones were found to have been laid on top of a cast iron pipe, which runs north-south through the entrance passageway, lying 0.5m below present ground level. The pipe measured 0.12m in diameter and was constructed in sections, the joints of which were slightly open. The pipe was left in situ as it is below the required level.

Finds
On removal of the rubble deposits stones various cut stone fragments and one floor tile were recovered. These included a fragment of a small engaged orange sandstone column (0.12m long by 80mm wide by 50mm) with traces of red paint while the floor tile was an incomplete replica (from the nave) with a dark green/lime green glaze, measuring 0.11m in length by 60mm in width. It is incised with a floral pattern and the fabric is a pale orange, evenly fired. Five additional fragments of cut sandstone were identified, all quite small, less than 0.12m in length but with identifiable cut edges.

28 Cabinteely Close, Old Bray Road, Cabinteely Dublin 18