EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Introduction
Fig. 1: Key to symbols used in county distribution maps
The site summaries are divided by county (only counties Carlow and Cavan have a nil
return). Within the counties, the site descriptions are arranged alphabetically by
townland, with the exception of those sites, such as Lisnagun, Co. Cork (O’Sullivan et
al. 1998), which are more commonly known by a particular site name. In these
cases, however, the townland name is also included to assist in locating the site
through the Sites and Monuments Database of the Archaeological Survey of Ireland,
or the Sites and Monuments Record in Northern Ireland. To also assist in locating the
site the grid reference is given both as a lettered grid square and four figure eastings
and northings (e.g. A12345678), as well as the equivalent in the more recently
adopted six figure co-ordinate system (e.g. 123456/123456).
There are other issues too relating to our ongoing uses of terminology in archaeology
generally. For example, drawing on the most recent work (Campbell 2007; O’Sullivan
et al. 2010) it was decided to reclassify imported pottery recorded in the
archaeological record. Thus Phocaean Red Slip Ware is preferred to the earlier A
ware; and Late Roman Amphora is preferred to B ware.
In order to maintain uniformity throughout, all radiocarbon dates were recalibrated
according to the most recent calibrations curve (Reimer et al. 2004) using the Calib
programme. Marine reservoir corrections were applied where necessary and are so
indicated in the radiocarbon table. All dates were calibrated to 2Σ, but the shape of
the calibration curve at certain points meant that a number of potential date ranges
were returned. The most probable of these date ranges (i.e. 85%+ of 2Σ calibration
(equivalent to approximately 80% overall probability)) are indicated in bold type, and
the remainder left in normal type. In a number of cases the original radiocarbon
dates were not available for recalibration, but a calibrated figure was quoted in the
text. This has been included in the radiocarbon table, but marked in red. Within the
text those dates which have been recalibrated under Reimer et al. 2004 are indicated
thus: A.D., whereas those dates which were pre-calibrated, but not re-calibrated, are
indicated thus: AD.
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