County: Dublin Site name: River Liffey
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 16E0495, 16D0070, and 16R0175.
Author: Rex Bangerter, ADCO
Site type: Riverine
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 717691m, N 734351m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.346045, -6.231469
Underwater Archaeological Impact Assessment (UAIA) and Environmental Sampling of riverbed deposits took place at four locations associated with the Dublin Bridges Project. This work was undertaken as part of a feasibility study associated with the proposed insertion of four new bridge structures, three of which are to cross the River Liffey at locations between Samuel Beckett Bridge and the East Link Bridge, and one that will cross the River Dodder at its confluence with the Liffey. The archaeological work included comprehensive assessment of the riverbed at each of the proposed bridge locations, extending the survey beyond the potential construction footprint at each location. The assessment recorded riverbed topography and provides a detailed account of the existing riverine environment.
On-site work comprised the systematic non-disturbance inspection of the river channel, its attendant quays, and any associated quayside features encountered. The environmental sampling was undertaken in accordance with the specification outlined by an AECOM environmental scientist, and comprised the gathering of sixteen samples from surface deposits to a depth no greater than 1m. A sample size of 1l was recovered from each location, typically being taken at a depth of c. 0.8m or to refusal. Sample locations were position-fixed using Total Station and DGPS recording, with the resulting data referenced to Irish National Grid, Irish Transverse Mercator, and to Malin Head Ordnance Datum.
The assessment comprised systematic visual inspection of the in-water and quayside extent of the following proposed bridge developments: Site 1 (Forbes Street Bridge), Site 2 (Castle Forbes Street Bridge), Site 3 (Dodder/Gut Bridge), and Site 4 (East Link Bridge). The assessment sought to record riverbed topography, assess the potential of riverbed deposits to retain archaeological material and identify any additional features/structures of archaeological or historic significance that are present. In addition, targeted metal-detection was employed to help assess the riverbed and highlight any metallic concentrations present within these deposits.
No material, deposits, or structures of archaeological or historical significance were encountered as part of the assessment of the riverbed impact locations. The on-site work was carried out between 25 and 27 October 2016.
No. 2, Main Street, Bennettsbridge, Co. Kilkenny
