IAC successfully undertook all pre-planning and construction-phase archaeological services for the redevelopment of River House, Chancery Lane in Dublin 7 for a new 249-bedroom hotel. A desktop assessment was undertaken to inform the planning application process which highlighted the archaeological potential of the area in the vicinity of the medieval St. Mary’s Abbey. Following demolition of the existing building a programme of archaeological test trenching was carried out in consultation with the City Archaeologist.
This investigation indicated that despite extensive modern disturbance archaeological remains had survived to significant depths in places. A Top-Down Construction and King Post Soil Retention System was employed at this site, the first of its type to be carried out in Ireland, which required a detailed pragmatic archaeological mitigation plan; including monitoring of initial ground reduction and excavation.