Evidence found of habitation dating back to Neolithic period
AN archaeological excavation took place at St Crispin’s Cell recently, following a geophysical survey indicating a rich history to be unearthed in the area.
Greystones Tidy Towns and Redford Park and St Crispin’s Residents’ Association initiated the dig in the medieval settlement.
The site is located just north of Greystones and is protected under the National Monuments Act. Human habitation dating back to the early Neolithic pe- riod was detected in the area.
Treasures unearthed at the site included pre-norman pottery, German Baltic Bartman stoneware; a clay pipe head; an 11th or 12th century dress fastener, and Bristol Hamgreen ware.
The public were invited to take part in the excavation throughout the week for as much or little time as they could spare.
Some wet weather in the earlier part of the week delayed their progress but otherwise the group members were delighted to uncover their fascinating finds.
A presentation of the findings was made last night at Greystones Tennis Club.
Diggers of all ages got in to the spirit of things, and spent days scraping away and unearthing some interesting items.
There were some moments when an intriguing find turned out to be just a stone!
The heritage site was home to the Indiana Jones types from Monday, November 5 until Friday, November 9.
St Crispin’s is located to the north of Greystones between the sea and local residential st crispens siteareas from where it provides access to the east of the railway line and to the Bray-to- Greystones Cliff Walk and Greystones North Beach.
The site is owned by Wicklow County Council and contains the ruins of St. Crispin’s Celle and Captain Tarrant’s Farmhouse and Outbuildings. The ruins are all protected structures and the site itself is protected under the Greystones Local Area Plan.