2023:674 - 23-28 Parnell Square North, Rotunda, Dublin 1, Dublin

A programme of archaeological monitoring of demolition works, archaeological testing, and archaeological excavation was carried out at the rear of 23-28 Parnell Square North, Rotunda, Dublin 1, for the Parnell Square Quarter in 2023. 18^th-century archaeological remains, including numerous coal cellars, in relation to the rear of the Georgian properties 23-28 Palace Row/Parnell Square North, were fully recorded. A large number of artefacts were recovered from five backfilled cess pits and a well.

Pre-18th-century activity was represented by several ditches and pits, all sealed by an early post-medieval deposit. These features were all aceramic, despite containing discarded settlement remains in the form of animal bone, suggesting a possible early medieval date. This is supported by the radiocarbon date of c. 9th century AD on disarticulated human remains found nearby, and the finding of a lignite bracelet, lignite manufacturing waste, a whale bone plaque, and clench bolts. The human remains, which were disturbed in the 18^th century, probably belong in part to a documented furnished Viking grave (Bøe 1940, 67). Taken together, the evidence suggests the existence of a later early medieval ditched enclosure situated at Nos. 23-28 Parnell Square North, at the crest of a ridge overlooking the Liffey estuary. This enclosure contained the graves of at least eight individuals, male and female, of which at least one has been radiocarbon dated to the c. 9th century, and one was most likely a furnished Viking grave originally found in the 1760s (known in the literature as the ‘Palace Row’ grave). The small iron fragments, clench bolts, and lignite bracelet excavated in 2023 may belong to this furnished Viking grave, and the whalebone plaque and lignite manufacturing waste in the surrounding features suggest a late early medieval camp or settlement.

Reference:

Bøe, J. 1940 'Norse antiquities in Ireland'. In H. Shetelig (ed.), Viking antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland, Vol 3. H. Aschehoug & Co., Oslo.

Archaeology Plan, 32 Fitzwilliam Place Dublin 2