EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Clare
‘Cahercommaun Fort’, (Tullycommon td.), Co. Clare
Early Medieval Settlement Enclosure
Grid Ref: R28199649 (128190/196496)
SMR No: N/A
Excavation Licence: N/A; 03E0397
Excavation Duration/Year: July - August 1934; April 2003
Site Director: H.O’N. Hencken (Third Harvard Archaeological Expedition); B. Quinn
(Moore Archaeological and Environmental Services)
Cahercommaun is an inland cliff-top fort situated in the townland of Tullycommon. It
comprises a roughly circular enclosure with two concentric stone walls, set on a cliff edge
(Fig. 47). Remains of a well-defined passageway giving access through the outer enclosure to
the centre enclosure on the eastern side of the fort as well as traces of radial walls and other
structures and features can be seen within and between the enclosing walls and in the
surrounding fields. The site was excavated on two occasions - in 1934, and latterly in 2003.
The fort consists of three limestone walls with rubble cores. The two outer enclosing walls of
the fort had diameters of 116m and 73.5m at their greatest points. The area between the
first and third walls yielded no significant archaeological deposits and it was suggested that
this area was intended primarily for agricultural use. The imposing inner wall surrounding the
living quarters was higher and more massive than the two others with a maximum thickness
of 8.5m and height of 4.5m. Excavations in the interior uncovered a guard room, several
irregular stone structures and hearths as well as two souterrains beneath a general deposit
consisting of stones and black earth mixed with bits of charcoal and animal bone.
Hencken (1938; 1950) suggested that the primary phase of occupation was between the
seventh and ninth centuries A.D The excavation identified no evidence for the building of new
structures or the abandonment of older ones in a secondary phase, suggesting that the
primary phase of occupation of the fort may have not been for much more than a few
generations. Two broadly contemporary phases of occupation were originally suggested by
the presence of two extensive layers of ash near one of the structures.
Ó Floinn (1999, 80-82) has recently re-evaluated the metalwork evidence from the site and
suggested the material-culture can be broadly divided into four early medieval phases
between the fifth/sixth and later ninth/tenth centuries. The first phase was dated to the
fifth/sixth century and included stratified deposits containing imported pottery (Late Roman
Amphora (B ware)) and an iron penannular brooch. The second phase dated to the later
sixth/seventh century (e.g. imported E ware pottery and a copper-alloy penannular brooch)
and the third to the later seventh-eighth century (e.g. an enamelled ring brooch and bowlshaped
spindle-whorls). The final phase was dated to the ninth and tenth centuries and
contained artefacts of early Viking age including a silver brooch.
Cotter, through a reassessment of Hencken’s excavations and Ó Floinn’s artefact analysis has
iidentified three early medieval phases. The first consisted of a pre-Souterrain fifth/sixtheighth
century phase (Ó Floinn’s Phase 1, 2 and 3). The main occupation phase was dated to
the ninth century (Ó Floinn Phase 4) and consisted of the stone structures and both
souterrains. The final phase (later ninth/tenth century) involved the re-flooring of the
southern area of the cashel and the construction of another structure.
Though a large collection of artefacts were recovered during the excavation, very few were
actually stratified because of the extensive infilling of the site. A large iron hook, socketed
iron knife and a decorated silver brooch were found beside a human skull inside one of the
souterrains. Objects belonging to a later period included a single-edged sword, pronged and
socketed tool, bone button and pieces of rotary and saddle querns. Tanged iron knives and
pieces of rotary querns were found in both earlier and later deposits.
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