A glass floor allows customers to gaze upon medieval Viking ruins under a Dublin Lidl store.
Opened in mid-October, the store was built directly over an 11th-century archeological site.
The ruins upon which customers will gaze were discovered during construction for a commercial development.
A glass floor allows customers to gaze upon medieval Viking ruins under a Dublin Lidl store.
Exploring the site, archeologists discovered the small structure inset into the ground.
The medieval builders dug the foundation before lining the walls with stone; an arched wooden structure stood above.
This small building was probably a storage or craft space, surrounded by above-ground dwellings which have not survived.
As reported byRTE News, researchers also discovered everyday artifacts including a 13th-century clay pitcher.
The structure was built by the Hiberno-Norse people who lived in an enclave of Dublin during the Middle Ages.
While the termHiberno-Norseis contested in scholarship, common use refers to populations with Gaelic and Scandinavian heritage.
Seafaring Vikings from Norway had arrived in Ireland by the 9th century, and they intermarried with Gaelic locals.
The building was likely built around 1070 CE for use as storage or a craft space.
Other artifacts were found in the medieval Viking building, including a 13th century pitcher.
Check out this video fromRTE Newsto see the ruins of the medieval Viking building for yourself.
