Poddle treasures found

Poddle treasures found

13 Jan 1906

ARCHAEOLOGISTS excavating the bed of the River Poddle alone the route of the new Dublin Corporation main drainage scheme near the city’s Christchurch Cathedral have uncovered finds of “extreme archaeological Interest”, it emerged last night.

Among the significant finds is the first corn mill of its kind found close to the old city. It was uncovered in the past fortnight by a team led by archaeologist Claire Walsh, who is under contract to the Corporation. According to Ms. Walsh, the only other such mills are at Ferrycurrig,’Co. Wexford, and at “Bunratty Folk Park; between Limerick and Shannon Airport. She told the Sunday Independent last night: “This Is the first medieval mill found in and around the city. All the others were rural. It is a highly-significant find”.

The Dublin mill runs for ten metres along the bank of the river, which has also thrown up many artefacts. Among them arc leather shoes in a good slate, of preservation, oak beams that walled the waterway, 12th century coins, decorative bronze stick-pins and a couple of skeletons. One — a female — was found inside a former lime kiln.

Timbers from the digs are being sent to Queens University in Belfast for dating. The excavations, which began in March, will continue until April.

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