EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Galway
Mackney, Co. Galway
Early Medieval Settlement Enclosure.
Grid Ref: M83742941 (183745/229417)
SMR No: N/A.
Excavation Licence: A024/E2444
Excavation Duration/Year: December 2005 – February 2006.
Site Director: F. Delaney (Eachtra)
The site consisted of a partially destroyed enclosure (55.64m in diameter) set on the side of a
low hill (Fig. 145). The enclosure was not included in the SMR and was only recognised
during field-walking undertaken as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment. The site
was excavated to facilitate road construction.
Excavation revealed three main phases of occupation on site. The earliest phase of
occupation was indicated by the presence of two fire pits, and a number of linear features, all
of which underlay the later enclosure bank. A radiocarbon date from charcoal associated with
one of these fire-pits suggests that the bank was constructed quite late in the early medieval
period (see below). This date (A.D. 771-899) is almost identical to one of the dates returned
from the ironworking area (A.D. 775-900), however, which suggests that at least some
ironworking may have been conducted on site prior to the construction of the bank.
The second phase of occupation was marked by the construction of the enclosure ditch,
which had maximum dimensions of 6m wide and 3.1m deep. The lower ditch fills were
composed of silts, presumably from gradual slippage, but a series of higher ditch fills,
composed of medium to large sub-rounded stones, would appear to represent the collapsed
remains of the stone revetment from the outer face of the bank. A similar stone revetment
appears to have existed on the interior face of the bank. A series of large postholes, found at
the entrance, have been interpreted as either representing a gateway into the enclosure, or
possibly as the remains of a more substantial gatehouse structure. A series of structures were
identified in the interior. The foundation trench for the roundhouse, Structure A (5.4m in
diameter), appears to have been divided into eight straight sections, which may represent the
presence of wooden foundation planks. A porch and possible roof-supports were also
indicated by the pattern of postholes. The partial remains of another roundhouse, (Structure
C (4.48m in diameter), were also indicated by a curvilinear foundation trench. As with
Structure A, this had some evidence for internal sub-division. A possible curvilinear lean-to
structure, (Structure B), was also identified. This structure measured 3.8m by 8.4m and
appeared to use the bank as a rear wall; a hearth was located within this building. Another
curvilinear structure, (Structure E), which was composed of six postholes with a central post,
was identified in the north-west of the interior. It appeared to have been open to the north
and may have constituted a shelter or wind-break. Patterns of postholes also identified two
rectilinear structures in the interior – a rectangular building (Structure D); and an L-shaped
structure (Structure F). Other groups of postholes were uncovered, but these could not be
identified with possible structures. A dry-stone built souterrain was constructed during this
phase, and may have been associated with House F.
A series of bowl furnaces/smithing hearths were also identified to the north of the entrance.
Dates from these features range from the ninth/tenth century, to the eleventh/twelfth
century (see below). Two series of postholes found in the vicinity of this metalworking area
are presumably related to workshops, but the pattern of these could not be clearly identified.
Four large fire pits were later dug into the interior of the site. Three radiocarbon dates from
these place them in the fourteenth to seventeenth centuries. The site was then used as
quarry, before being utilised as a cillín – 143 infant skeletons were recovered during
excavation.
Just over 5000 animal bones were recovered from the early medieval phase of the site,
mainly of domesticates (cattle dominant, then sheep and pigs). Few finds were directly
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