EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Dublin
Dubhlinn – a large natural pool that was formed by the tidal action of the River Poddle – gave
its name to the modern city. The pool has been associated with an ecclesiastical centre and
the annals record abbots there in the seventh and eighth centuries (Clarke 2000, 40). Its
exact location is not known but the curving streets of Peter Row, Whitefriar Street, Upper and
Lower Stephen Street and Lower Mercer Street have been postulated as forming the extent
of the ecclesiastical enclosure (Clarke 1990, 61–2). However, archaeological evidence in this
area has been disappointing with little corroborating evidence that it marks the earliest part
of Dublin (Simpson 2000, 15). Excavations at St Michael le Pole church and its surrounding
areas have however revealed archaeological evidence for settlement, agriculture and
industry. It both predates the first Scandinavian raids and settlement and indicates
continuous occupation while the Hiberno-Scandinavian town was at its most powerful. St
Michael le Pole, therefore, may be the early ecclesiastical site referred to in the annals.
The church of St Michael le Pole was situated to the south of the town walls and to the
southwest, in close proximity, of Dubhlinn (Fig. 126). Excavation initially occurred on the site
at Ship Street in 1981 and focused on identifying the church and round tower (Gowen 2001).
A number of phases were identified both pre and postdating the construction of the church in
the twelfth century.
Phase I was represented by a group of shallow gullies, hearths and postholes (Gowen 2001,
28–31). Some of the latter were large and stone-packed but no discernible structural plans
could be identified. Charcoal from a hearth was dated to A.D. 659-870 (see Table A for
radiocarbon dates). These features tentatively suggest occupational activity in the area
between the mid seventh and late ninth century.
The second phase consisted of layers of clays containing ash, mortar and butchered animal
bone that sealed the first phase. These layers were also cut by graves – one of which was a
lintel grave – that predated the church (Gowen 2001, 31–7). The presence of lime and
mortar from Phase II is suggestive of mortar production and potentially the construction of
buildings in the vicinity. However, the church cut these features so was not the focus of this
construction phase. The presence of butchered animal bone and mussel shells shows that
people were eating and possibly living here prior to the site’s use as a cemetery. The burials
appear to slightly postdate the Phase II activity and some definitely predate the construction
of the church as they were truncated by it. However, it is probable that some of the graves
are also contemporary with the church. The single lintel grave was dated to A.D. 894-1262
which suggests that this person was interred close to the construction date of the church.
Phase III has been dated between A.D. 1100 and the fourteenth century and this witnessed
the construction of the church and round tower (Gowen 2001, 37–40). The west wall of the
church was revealed as well as the foundation for an internal round tower at the western end
of the church (Fig. 127). The church and round tower have been dated to the twelfth century
on stylistics grounds with similar engaged round towers at Ferns and Glendalough. Following
this, the cemetery continued to be used into the post medieval period although historical
accounts demonstrate that St Michael le Pole church declined in importance after the arrival
of the Anglo-Normans.
Excavations on the east side of Bride Street in 1993 revealed a number of phases of
archaeological activity that have been associated with the church at St Michael le Pole
(McMahon 2002). The site lies to the west of the church and round tower and possibly
represents the westernmost activity of the ecclesiastical site. Although St Brigid’s church is
situated close by to the east, Bride Street currently divides the two sites and this road
probably has an early origin because it joins Werburgh Street to the north which is pre-
Norman in date (Hayden 2002). Therefore, McMahon’s excavations probably pertain to St
Michael le Pole as the road would have acted as a boundary between the two ecclesiastical
sites. It is also noteworthy that the two ecclesiastical sites may not be contemporary and it
has been suggested that St Brigid’s is post-Scandinavian in date (Bradley 1992, 52). Finally,
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