Archaeological identity of Hiberno-norse Towns
A lot of information on the Vikings has been found in Dublin since excavations happened in the early 1960s at Dublin Castle. The finds were found in anaerobic (oxygen-free) ground conditions which preserved organic material perfectly, the first being that of a treasure trove of organic materials. During the Viking period, many household objects were built of wood, these anaerobic conditions helped preserve the different layers of Viking Dublin. The remains found were vast: complete foundations of wattle-and-daub houses; interior heaths and benches; workshops; timber pathways and boundary fences; and even latrines and rubbish pits filled with rare artefacts. What was left behind was the archaeological impression of the many generations who lived in the bustling international port known as Dyflinn, founded in the ninth century.
Wood Quay gave evidence on the town layout; it sheds light on Dublin’s Viking-age and Anglo-Norman waterfronts. Nine successive stages from which the river Liffey was embanked were discovered. In around the tenth and early fourteenth centuries around 80m was reclaimed from the bed of the river at Wood Quay. The earliest bank was built were built above the high-water mark to keep the properties dry during the 10th century, the Vikings improved that design by constructing a defensive embankment topped with a post-and-wattle palisade This was later replaced by a larger embankment which probably, like its forerunner, encircled the entire Viking-age town The larger bank was covered with a stave-built palisade which provided cover for the defenders of eleventh-century Dublin. Later on a stone wall was constructed. This was Dublin’s first stone wall and just like the wooden palisade before surrounded the town.
Wood Quay gave evidence on the town layout; it sheds light on Dublin’s Viking-age and Anglo-Norman waterfronts. Nine successive stages from which the river Liffey was embanked were discovered. In around the tenth and early fourteenth centuries around 80m was reclaimed from the bed of the river at Wood Quay. The earliest bank was built were built above the high-water mark to keep the properties dry during the 10th century, the Vikings improved that design by constructing a defensive embankment topped with a post-and-wattle palisade This was later replaced by a larger embankment which probably, like its forerunner, encircled the entire Viking-age town The larger bank was covered with a stave-built palisade which provided cover for the defenders of eleventh-century Dublin. Later on a stone wall was constructed. This was Dublin’s first stone wall and just like the wooden palisade before surrounded the town.
Demolition of the 11th century Stone wall
During October and November 1980 the eleventh-century city wall which spanned the Wood Quay site, was methodically wiped out. The stones of the wall were purposefully numbered after the demolition was given assurance that the wall was to be re-built. During the years of 1977-1980 corporation officials, and their legal representatives, stressed that the walls were to be conserved. In June 1979, Alderman Ben Briscoe had informed the media that the wall was being conserved at a value of £10,000 per foot.
The High Court was informed, on 30th November 1977 by Dermot Kinlen, SC for the corporation, that the wall would be wholly conserved; and in a newsletter issued to all Dublin schools, on the part of corporation officials, in November-December 1978, it was stated that the wall ‘will be retained exactly where it was originally built.’ Yet by November 1980 the wall was close to being demolished, with a portion of which was bulldozed.
The High Court was informed, on 30th November 1977 by Dermot Kinlen, SC for the corporation, that the wall would be wholly conserved; and in a newsletter issued to all Dublin schools, on the part of corporation officials, in November-December 1978, it was stated that the wall ‘will be retained exactly where it was originally built.’ Yet by November 1980 the wall was close to being demolished, with a portion of which was bulldozed.