EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

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was excavated within the interior of the structure. Bone fragments and a little iron slag were
recovered to the north of the structure below the stone collapse.
The smaller pair of conjoined huts (C and D) (Fig. 169) appears to be structurally earlier than
the conjoined huts (A and B) (Fig. 170) and may also precede Phase 2. They however postdate
the enclosure wall as they are built into its fabric. The structures (C) - 3.6m-4m
internally- and (D) – 4.5m internally- contained dry-stone walls measuring 1.15m wide and
0.6m high. Though there was no inward inclination in the walls, their size suggests that their
roofs were completed by corbelling.
A large fire-pit was uncovered underlying the rubble in Structure C and contained a
considerable amount of peat charcoal, slate-like stones as well as a small flint scraper in its
upper levels. A portion of an iron knife was recovered on the floor of structure C beside the
fire-pit. No small finds, apart from shell dumps, survived within Structure D.
A number of smelting furnaces were excavated on the floor level of Structure D and
contained iron slag, fired clay fragments, furnace bottoms and charcoal. A spread of peatcharcoal,
iron slag, furnace bottoms, a shallow burnt pit and postholes were also excavated
to the east of Structure D- overlying a series of drains- and were related to the various
ironworking processes.
The peat layer was probably associated with the furnace pits inside Structure D which are
likely to date to the final use of this building. The recovery of a sherd of eighth to eleventh
century wheel-made pottery in the peat deposit could be significant because it could provide
a very broad terminus ante quem for the use of these clocháns. It also indicates that this
industrial activity, particularly within Structures D and possibly Structure G could have been
undertaken by the occupants of Structures A and B in Phase 2 (c. eighth to twelfth century).
Phase 2 involved various structures and featured dating from the seventh/eighth century to
as late as the twelfth century A.D. The stone oratory (3.5m by 2.7m internally) was built over
a number of primary lintel graves. Its walls survived to a height of some four to five courses
at the eastern end (0.45m) and may have originally supported a corbelled dome-shaped roof.
Traces of the original oratory floor- trampled clay or daub- was revealed beneath the late
burials. A deposit of peat charcoal lay close to its level while charcoal and iron slag was
recovered at a higher level. Two heel-stones were discovered from among the basal course at
the western end and beside the southern wall and may have originally supported a hinged
door for the oratory.
The cemetery continued in use after the oratory was built and a group of burials to the
southwest and extreme south of the oratory appear to post date the oratory. Those to the
southwest have an orientation close to east-west and either lack lintels or were poorly made -
possibly indicative of the degeneration of a lintel tradition. A small green glass bead was
recovered from one of these burials. The burials to the extreme south have the greatest
deviation from an east-west orientation and could represent a relatively late group of burials.
An internal dividing wall (1m-1.4m wide) was built which separated the burial area from the
site’s western half. It overlay the early habitation evidence and its foundations were at a
higher level than the three burials beside the cross inscribed stone. The partial remains of a
paved way was uncovered and appears to have lead from the threshold slab of the oratory
doorway through an entrance in the dividing wall and linking up with the conjoined Structures
A and B. The two conjoined huts (A) - 5.5m internally- and (B) - 6.1m internally- were built
upon the line of the primary enclosure wall indicating that it had either fallen into disrepair or
been demolished prior to their construction. An extension of the enclosing wall was then
subsequently added to incorporate these huts into the enclosure. The structures contained
dry-stone walls (1.3m wide) which survived to maximum height of 1.2m. Both structures had
evidence for inward battering though their large size, lack of stones amongst the collapse and
internal postholes in structure B might indicate roofs of thatch or sod. An arc of stones
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