County: Dublin Site name: 180-184 James Street, Dublin 8
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 22E0086
Author: Ian Russell, Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit Ltd
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 713509m, N 733819m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.342410, -6.295407
Archaeological test trenching was carried out in September 2023 with a total of 4 test trenches excavated across the site. The south of the site was covered by a concrete pad, being part of the structures demolished during phase 1. To the north, demolition rubble had been spread across the site with a steep drop-off backing on to apartment buildings below. Due to the incline, test trenches were excavated as appropriate.
Trenches were excavated to a depth of between 0.8m and 0.84m until the natural, light brown silty clay containing moderate amounts of angular stones was observed.
Trench 1 contained a ditch located to the north, measuring 1.34m in depth it was observed containing a dark black silty clay with post-medieval ceramics and modern debris. This trench was also observed in Trenches 3 and 4. The south of Trench 1 also contained the foundations of a building filled with modern debris including laminate flooring measuring c.2.5m in length. Approximately 0.8m north of the building was a stone-lined drain measuring 0.81m in width and 0.4m in depth. No archaeological features were observed in Trenches 2 and 3 beyond the previously-mentioned ditch.
Trench 4 was only partially excavated as the foundations of a building which appears similar to that in Trench 1 was uncovered which contained large quantities of modern debris and rubble, including asbestos roof tiles.
The results of the test trenching conclude that no archaeological features or deposits are present at the site, with modern construction and subsequent demolition present. The ditch present to the north of Test trenches 1 to 3 contained modern ceramics throughout and is possibly related to landscaping associated with the apartment buildings to the north of the site. As archaeological features or deposits were identified during testing, all necessary archaeological investigations are now considered complete, and no further action is required.
Unit 21 Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth. A92 DH99.
