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Shoppers at a new Lidl store in Dublin will get a unique insight into the city’s medieval past.
The remains of an 11th century house are clearly visible under a glass section of the shop floor on Aungier Street in the city center.
The sunken soil structure was discovered during excavations at the site, near Dublin Castle.
“It is a unique structure for Dublin,” said Paul Duffy of IAC Archeology.
“I’m sure it worked like many things. As a house or as an extra space for the family. It is a domestic structure, so you would have to imagine that here there would be a suburb of Hiberno-Nordic Dubliners who were effectively the ancestors. of the Vikings, “he added.
A similar glass panel, near the store’s checkouts, shows an 18th century ‘pit trap’ associated with the performance of the old Aungier Street Theater stage.
“It was the device you used when you wanted an actor to go up and down and magically appear on stage.
“So we were delighted that such a significant part of the theater was found, recognized and now presented to the public. I think it’s really great that Lidl is showing it right in front of their boxes,” said Linzi Simpson, consulting archaeologist on the project.
Information boards and artwork interpreting the remains are also on display throughout the new store.
“Lidl has more than 10,000 stores around the world. But this is something very unique and it really makes archeology accessible to the public,” said Vincent Cronnolly from Lidl Ireland.
The foundations of the medieval Parish Church of St. Peter, which served Dublin parishioners from c.1050 to c.1650, are also preserved underneath the new building’s work areas.
Hopefully this project establishes a new benchmark for the treatment of archaeological heritage in the city. There has been a very collaborative approach from everywhere.
“I think we have to challenge the Celtic Tiger approach of fencing, excavating a site and then building a development,” said Dublin City archaeologist Dr. Ruth Johnson.
Reflecting on the unique glass display for the 11th century house, Paul Duffy said: “I’m waiting for Dubliners to give this thing a name. It’s going to get its own Dublin nickname as the ‘stiletto in the ghetto’ for The Spire. But it will be part of Dublin city life and history. “
Lidl says 24 people will work at the 3 million euro store that opens tomorrow.
The rest of the development comprises student accommodation.
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