County: Dublin Site name: MetroLink (Phase 5); Saint Stephen's Green, Dublin
Sites and Monuments Record No.: DU018-020334- Licence number: C001054 & E005338
Author: Thaddeus C. Breen; Shanarc Archaeology Ltd.
Site type: Urban post-medieval
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 716112m, N 733374m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.337848, -6.256499
Five hand-dug inspection pits were excavated within the interior of St Stephen’s Green Park (East) at the location of the proposed MetroLink St Stephen’s Green Station. These pits measured 0.5m x 0.25m in plan at present ground level, changing to a circular hole approximately 0.2m in diameter at the base of the excavation. They were excavated to a depth of 1.2m.
The excavation was monitored while in progress, and all soil excavated was subject to a metal detection survey. A small number of objects were recovered from the topsoil, and all were of 19th-20th-century date. They included potsherds, a ‘Parnell’ clay pipe bowl, a possible iron gate latch, part of a glass lampshade and part of the neck of a spirit flask.
To provide access for this work, some of the iron lawn guards had to be taken up. It proved possible to lever them up without any need to dig up the soil. A certain amount of soil disturbance did take place during this activity, and a fragment of a 19th-20th-century roof tile was found.
The objects were consistent with topsoil in a modern landscaped park. Probable undisturbed natural was found in one pit at 0.4-0.55m below ground level.
Unit 39a, Hebron Business Park, Hebron Road, Kilkenny
