EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Limerick
no wattle- or postholes and were interpreted as foundation trenches or possible drainage
features for a structure.
The adjacent Site II consisted of the partial remains of an early medieval platform enclosure
(Fig. 193). The eastern half of the enclosure was still visible though the western half had
been almost completely ploughed out. Two phases of activity were uncovered in the
excavated trial-trench.
In the early phase the site appears to have been enclosed by a primary ditch. No evidence for
an internal bank was uncovered and suggests that the soil may have been spread across the
interior of the site. An excavated section of the ditch at the northern end measured 1m wide
and 0.50m deep, and contained habitation refuse which had gradually accumulated and
spread outward into the ditch from the interior. The entrance was through an uncut
causeway at the southern end and was defined by one post-hole which may have supported
a gate.
The partial remains of twelve huts were identified in the interior were in the trial-trench -
these appeared to be of wattle construction, although a number also had wall-trenches and
postholes. The buildings were not all of the same date with many of the structures clearly
cutting each other or displaying some evidence for repair. The remains of two of these huts
(J and K) were excavated in the environs of the southern entrance and possibly pre-dated the
primary enclosure. Two of the houses were described rectangular or sub-rectangular in shape
and two as circular. Two of the structures contained internal hearths. A thick spread of soil
rich in habitation refuse containing a number of finds and animal bone overlay all the
excavated structures.
In the later phase, a new ditch was dug outside the earlier ditch (which may have filled up by
this stage), and a bank was built. The bank was revetted internally and externally by a
wooden palisade identified as two concentric trenches with postholes. The ditch was broad
and deep and contained quantities of animal bone, charcoal. The partial remains of an
angular wattle house with a roughly circular pit inside it were identified partly overlying the
filled-up secondary ditch at the northern end. The sides of the internal pit were oxidized
indicating in situ firing.
A number of domestic finds were recovered from the primary phase structures and habitation
refuse and included an iron pin or needle, two iron knives, five hones, one bone ‘scoop’, and
a bone handle. There was also evidence for industrial activity in the first phase in the form of
two furnace bottoms and fragments of a tuyère. A blue glass bead, one iron awl, two bone
pins, one bone point, a fragment of a jet bracelet and fragments of four quern stones
comprised the finds from the later phase. The faunal remains from the site included cattle,
sheep, pig, horse, dog, fox, red deer (antler tines) and rook as well as the fragmentary
remains of at least four adult humans as well as some children and infants.
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