Avocaarchaeologistuncovers arareMedievaljugduringdig
AN AVOCA archaeologist enjoyed a career-high in recent weeks as he uncovered a virtually intact jug dating back to Medieval times.
Ivor Kenny, who is known locally for his involvement with the Avoca Tidy Towns and Community Courthouse, works with Archaeology and Built Heritage and made the discovery while excavating a site close to Dublin Castle and the Medieval City wall.
‘ This excavation was carried out in advance of a commercial development of a city centre site. This is a normal requirement of the planning process in the city where there are many layers of remains from the past, most of which contain evidence for how our ancestors lived and died,’ Ivor explained.
Ivor’s role requires him to locate these layers and collect and identify the remains and evidence, and record them before they covered up by new developments.
The recently unearthed vessel, which dates back to the 13th or 14th century has caused quite a stir within the world of archaeology, as it is almost unheard of that a pottery item of this size would remain in such good condition and not have been broken.
‘It is a very rare event. Most pottery vessels were thrown away because they were broken, or they break over the passage of time,’ said Ivor.
‘Archaeologists working in the city centre regularly find broken pieces of pottery, but it is exceptional for a vessel of this size not to break under the weight of soil above. Pottery vessels of this size are often very fragile, and the excavation of the jug had to be done with a great deal of care, patience, and expertise. It is also possible that there could be some residue still contained within the jug that might give archaeologists clues to what Medieval Dublin folk were drinking. Experts believe that the jug was made to hold beer or wine – both of which were preferred and probably safer to consume than the water available in Medieval Dublin,’ Ivor said. Ivor explains that the jug itself belongs to a class known as Medieval Dublin Ware.
‘Before this type, much of the pottery in Dublin was imported from France or England. This pottery type represents the development of an indigenous style made with materials sourced from Leinster. It also represents the establishment of a native industry in Hiberno-Norman Dublin. It was probably made sometime between the creation of the first Parliament of Ireland in 1297 and the arrival of the plague known as the ‘Black Death’ that decimated the Anglo-Norman population of Dublin in 1348,’ he said. The jug is now on its way to a specialist for expert conservation. After that, it will very likely be displayed in the National Museum of Ireland as one of the finest known examples of Medieval Dublin ware.
This latest find comes just weeks after Coolgreany-native Dr Clíodhna Ní Lionáin discovered a megalithic passage tomb dating back some 5,500 years at the 18th century Dowth Hall in county Meath. Dr Ní Lionáin, who hails from Plattenstown was the lead archaeologist on an excavation within the Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Site.