EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Limerick
the ‘enclosure’ is the latest feature and was erected after all the other enclosures and a
number of the field systems were built.
Cush 1 consists of a counterscarp enclosure on the northwest side of the southern group with
a diameter of 17.7m internally and 39.6m externally. The ditch of the surrounding enclosure
was continuous and access to the fort may have been by means of a wooden gangway
defined on the western perimeter by two pairs of flanking postholes and an internal
causeway. Numerous postholes were uncovered and these divided into two main groups,
mainly in the southeast and the northwest of the interior. No definite plan of any structure
was identified though a group of postholes in the southeast had a roughly semi-circular
outline. Three hearths were uncovered - two associated with the northwest cluster of
postholes, and one with the southeast. A silted-up stone-lined souterrain- 8.2m long- was
found in the southwest of the interior. Finds from the enclosure included a possible flint
scraper and one loom weight. One particular quernstone also appears to have been possibly
re-used as a pivot stone for the structure in the southeast.
Cush 2 consists of a counterscarp enclosure at the northern side of the southern group. The
remains of a small timber and clay house- defined by two postholes and an irregular setting
of stones in a clay bank- were located just inside and on the south side of the western
entrance. A stone-lined hearth was located in the centre of the site and was associated with a
small number of burnt bones, and many postholes (presumably representing a structure or a
sequence of structures, the form of which could not be identified). Two shallow storage pits
and a souterrain- 4.3m long- were also uncovered in the centre of the interior. Finds from the
site included a greenish-yellow glass bead and part of a blade of an iron sickle.
Cush 3 consists of a bivallate enclosure to the south of Cush 2. The western entrance was
5.2m wide and was flanked by a facing of dry-stone masonry at its ditch terminals.
Immediately within the enclosure, the entrance appears to have been defined by two pairs of
postholes and the remains of a stone kerb set on the inner side of the bank. Several
postholes were identified in the southern and south-eastern side of the interior and appear to
have formed rectangular houses- the best defined having dimensions of 4.9m by 3.7m. On
top of the inner bank a small cist-like feature- 0.50 by 0.38m- with a small amount of
calcined bone was discovered, which the excavator interpreted as a hearth. A silted-up stonelined
C-shaped souterrain was discovered in the northern half of the interior. A series of
postholes in a hollow outside its southern opening were interpreted as a possible timber
structure associated with the souterrain entrance. Finds from the site included half a
greenish-yellow glass bead, iron spear-head, stone axe fragment, un-bored disc of a spindlewhorl,
one loom weight, two stone-discs and a stone bracelet.
Cush 4 consists of a univallate enclosure to the south of Cush 2. A hearth was located in the
centre of the interior and a series of flat stones forming the base of a wall of a possible
structure were uncovered to its north and east. A large, complex stone-lined souterrain was
uncovered south of the hearth and the approach to its opening was defined by a series of
postholes, interpreted as belonging to some form of entrance structure. Several postholes
were uncovered between the hearth and the souterrain- as was further portions of walls- but
no complete building plan could be identified. Finds from the souterrain included a light blue
glass bead, three beads of dark blue glass and a bead of light blue glass. Other finds included
bronze button or stud, bronze pin, three stone spindle-whorls, one stone bracelet and a stone
pendant.
Cush 5 consists of a bivallate enclosure- with preceding prehistoric burial activity- at the
south end of the southern group. The western entrance of the enclosure was flanked on
either side by two large postholes which probably formed part of an entrance gateway.
Evidence for a kerb of stones at the external base of the inner bank- north of the entranceas
well as the recovery of similar boulders in the fill of the inner ditch indicates some form of
stone-facing along the external side of the inner bank. Successive phases of occupation were
uncovered in the interior. The earliest house appears to have been a dry-stone-walled circular
367