Lecture: Recent Archaeological Excavations in the Heart of Late Viking-Age Waterford

Waterford Archaeological and Historical Society April Lecture – ‘Recent Archaeological Excavations in the Heart of Late Viking-Age Waterford’

The WAHS lecture season for 2017 and 2018 continues on Friday 27th April with a lecture titled ‘Recent Archaeological Excavations in the Heart of Late Viking-Age Waterford’ by archaeologist Joanne Hughes at 8:00 pm in the St Patrick’s Gateway Centre, Waterford.

Archaeological excavations in advance of the redevelopment of Waterford’s City Square Shopping Centre were undertaken between November 2016 and March 2017. The excavations were directed by Joanne Hughes for Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd, and were facilitated on site by Sisk who managed the redevelopment project. Pre-development archaeological test excavations revealed the presence of significant archaeological deposits surviving in situ on the site of what used to be the Brasserie Restaurant on Arundel Square. This work also informed the scope of the 2016/17 excavations which were set out and agreed in advance with the National Monuments Service of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. In accordance with national policy, there was a presumption in favour of preservation in situ, and consequently, much of the archaeological deposits at Arundel Square remain preserved below the footprint of the new shopping centre building.

Excavations in advance of construction of City Square in the 1980s and 1990s provided the framework for the most recent work at Arundel Square, however, the recent work allowed for a number of previously unresolved archaeological issues to be addressed. It was assumed, for example, that questions regarding the location, form and layout of the Jesuit College might be answered, as well as the changing form and layout of the High Street – Peter Street plots through time. As anticipated, the excavation of features and deposits and their associated small (and big!) finds revealed rich new evidence for the development of this important site in the heart of medieval Waterford. Post-excavation works are ongoing and in this lecture Joanne will showcase preliminary findings the excavations she directed.

Joanne Hughes 

Joanne studied Archaeology at UCD, before completing an M.Sc at the University of Sheffield. Joanne has worked as a field archaeologist since 1996; has directed excavations since 2002. She is currently employed by Cork City Council as Project Manager of the EU-funded ‘Military, Maritime, & Industrial Atlantic Heritage’ project. Over the course of her career Joanne has worked with numerous organizations in the heritage and tourism fields including OPW, South Tipperary Development Company and South Tipperary Tourism Company. In a voluntary capacity, Joanne works with Cashel Heritage Forum, a group who deliver archaeology and heritage related projects with an acknowledged high education value. Joanne still loves the thrill of discovery and constant learning that her job brings, and really enjoys communicating the results and value of her archaeological work.

Admission to the lecture is €5 (students €2.50), but is free for members of the Waterford Archaeological and Historical Society