EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Cork
sequence of fire debris. The pit (3.5m by 1.3m and 0.8m deep) truncated the enclosing C-
shaped trench and was the latest feature on the site. The hearth (1.2m by 0.2m and 0.2m
deep) was stone-lined and cut into the southeast side of the pit. It had a heavily oxidized
base and contained charcoal, burnt bone carbonized wood and a large quantity of seeds,
primarily those of oats followed by barley. A second pit (0.8m in diameter and 0.4m deep)
was cut into the top fill of this pit. Two burnt fragments of bone and a copper-alloy
implement, most likely used as an ear scraper or a type of grooming implement, was
recovered from its lower fill. Charcoal from its lower fill produced a radiocarbon date in the
sixth/seventh century (see below).
Two sub-oval pits to the southeast were excavated, one of which contained a hearth at its
base, from which charcoal, burnt bone and a large quantity of seeds- primarily oats and
barley- was recovered. An oak sample from its fill produced a radiocarbon date in the seventh
to ninth century range (see below). Two other possible sub-circular hearths were located to
the west of the C-shaped structure. The first hearth contained charcoal, burnt bone
fragments and oxidized clay within its fills; and the other possible hearth contained charcoal
and small stones.
Fire debris, burnt bone and a large quantity of grains (principally oats and to a lesser extent
barley, with smaller amounts of rye, wheat and wild plants) indicate that the area to the
southwest was used for food preparation and cooking. The possible kiln flues tentatively
indicate cereal-drying in this area as well. The small quantity of burnt bone could not be
identified to species but contained both large mammal (assumed to be cattle, horse or large
deer) and medium-sized mammal (assumed to be sheep/goat, pig or small deer). The few
finds from the site consisted of modern ceramic sherds, a metal object and two copper-alloy
implements.
(No plans were available for this site)
Radiocarbon Dates:
(PJ Reimer, MGL Baillie, E Bard, A Bayliss, JW Beck, C Bertrand, PG Blackwell, CE Buck, G Burr, KB Cutler, PE Damon,
RL Edwards, RG Fairbanks, M Friedrich, TP Guilderson, KA Hughen, B Kromer, FG McCormac, S Manning, C Bronk
Ramsey, RW Reimer, S Remmele, JR Southon, M Stuiver, S Talamo, FW Taylor, J van der Plicht, and CE
Weyhenmeyer (2004), Radiocarbon 46:1029-1058).
Sample No.
Beta - 201060
Beta - 201061
Beta - 201062
Beta - 201063
Beta - 201064
References:
Context
Charcoal- identified as oak- from fill
of C-shaped trench
Charcoal- identified as oak- from fill
of hearth to the southeast of C-
shaped trench
Charcoal- identified as ash, hazel
and oak- from lower fill of secondary
pit cut into top fill of pit
Charcoal- identified as oak- from
hearth inside C-shaped structure
Charcoal- identified as ash- from
basal fill of enclosing ditch
14 C Date Cal. 2 Σ
1240±60 BP A.D. 660-896
A.D. 923-940
1240±70 BP A.D. 657-899
A.D. 918-954
A.D. 956-961
1440±50 BP A.D. 471-477
A.D. 535-673
1290±60 BP A.D. 649-878
1380±40 BP A.D. 582-694
A.D. 704-705
A.D. 748-765
Murphy, D. 2006. Final Report on Archaeological Excavation of Skahanagh North 3- 03E1132.
Unpublished ACS Report
162