MEDIEVAL FINDS

There were further finds of coins, pottery and lead weights from the medieval period. The coins date from the 13^th century. Most of the pottery is 13^th / 14^th century glazed Leinster cooking ware. The Rathdown Hoard, comprising over 500 sixpences and shillings, mainly of Elizabeth 1^st, is the largest 16^th / 17^th century hoard found outside of Ulster, and suggests that Rathdown was a place of considerable importance. The Hoard includes 2 Ferdinand and Isabella Spanish reales (1469-1504), indicative of overseas trading. The other coins date from 1553 (Queen Mary) to 1607 (James 1^st).

Smal, Chris (1993) Ancient Rathdown and St. Crispin’s Cell, A uniquely historic landscape. Friends of Historic Rathdown, Greystones.