Excavation - miscellaneous

The National Monuments Service's description

Archaeological testing carried out at 57-8 Mary Street and 1-4 Sir Harry's Mall by Frank Coyne, Aegis Archaeology Ltd, under licence no. 03E1610, the results of which were summarised as following; 'Four test-trenches were excavated at Nos 57 and 58 Mary Street and Nos 1-4 Sir Harry's Mall adjacent to Baal's Bridge [LI005-017001-], in advance of a proposed development. They varied from 18m to 24m in length and were 2m in width. Substantial archaeological remains were uncovered in all trenches. The medieval town wall [LI005-017010-] was identified in Trenches 1, 2 and 4, running in an east-west direction. It measured a maximum of 3m in width and was of limestone rubble construction, with evidence of facing, rubble core and a basal plinth. A substantial stretch of wall, also orientated east-west, was uncovered in Trench 3 and this is interpreted as the remains of a post-medieval quay wall. Trenches 1 and 2 both contained a black humic layer overlying the natural clay, averaging 1m in thickness. This layer represents human occupation build-up. The layer was only present in the areas inside the line of the town wall, suggesting that different activities were being carried out inside and outside the wall. Human skeletal remains were also identified in all four trenches, with articulated remains present in Trenches 1, 2 and 3. Architectural fragments, probably from the nearby abbey [LI005-017115-] (now no longer extant), and a single fragment of green-glazed post-medieval pottery were also recovered' (www.excavations.ie).

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 20 December 2019