2019:760 - Dodder Bridge & Blood Stoney Bridge, Sir John Rogerson's Quay/Britain Quay/York Road, Dublin, Dublin

Archaeological monitoring was conducted between 27 July 2018 and 13 August 2019 relating to site investigations for two proposed bridges in Dublin, crossing the mouth of the Dodder from Sir John Rogerson’s and Britain Quays to Thorncastle Street and York Road, and crossing the Liffey from Blood Stoney Road to New Wapping Street. A number of bore-holes, mostly on the river, but also a small number on land, were monitored, as well as land-based test pits and slit trenches.

Eighteen boreholes, four slit trenches and a trial pit were monitored at the Dodder Bridge site. The boreholes in the river were each drilled simultaneously at two points, using a rotary coring auger and a cable percussion rig. Both of these were monitored until they reached the natural boulder clay.

Eleven boreholes and two trial pits were monitored at the Blood Stoney Bridge site. The boreholes were drilled consecutively on the same spot, the rotary coring auger being used in the hole already made by cable percussion drilling. The auger was not used for the upper strata, which were of potential archaeological interest. The cable percussion drilling was monitored until the natural boulder clay was reached.

Nothing of archaeological significance was found in the river-based boreholes, and it appeared that extensive dredging had removed any ancient deposits. On land, however, some structural remains were found: the inner face of the quay wall on Sir John Rogerson’s Quay at the southern end of the proposed Blood Stoney Bridge, and three unidentified features, a riveted steel structure, part of a brick wall, and a probable timber pile on North Wall Quay.

Unit 39a, Hebron Business Park, Hebron Road, Kilkenny