EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Limerick
Raheennamadra, Co. Limerick
Early Medieval Settlement Enclosure
Grid Ref: R74282932 (174282/129329)
SMR No: LI041-013011
Excavation Licence: N/A
Excavation Duration/year: July - September 1960; July - August 1961
Site Director: M. Stenberger (University of Uppsala)
A univallate platform enclosure at Raheennamadra, excavated in 1960 and 1961 by the
University of Uppsala, revealed an early medieval hut, souterrain, paved courtyard and two
extended furnished human skeletons (Fig. 195). The site belongs to a group of three
enclosures which are situated in open grazing land and delimited by a number of small
streams and ditches.
Pre-enclosure habitation phase was suggested by the excavation of an isolated oval-shaped
hearth filled with charcoal and burnt clay on top of the original ground surface. The charcoal
returned a calibrated 2Σ date of B.C. 60- A.D. 429. The hearth was not associated with any
other features and may represent the remnants of temporary dwelling pre-dating the
enclosure.
The enclosure consisted of a low platform - approximately 0.75m high - surrounded by a
bank-and-ditch. The diameter of the site was roughly 38m-40m and the platform inside the
bank was some 25m across. The ditch was U-shaped in profile and was cut into the boulder
clay. It varied from 1.3m to 1.5m in depth and was approximately 3m wide at the top and 1m
at the bottom.
The enclosing bank survived to a height of 0.6m-1.1m above the old ground surface. The
bank had a core of boulder clay surrounded on both sides by an extensive humus layer which
in turn was covered with boulder clay. Some round shallow depressions were identified
between the bank and the edge of the external ditch and may represent postholes for a
supporting palisade.
The north-western entrance appears to have been protected by side-posts and an unusual
gated palisade (c.f. Garryduff II, Co. Cork) filling the gap between the ends of the enclosing
banks
A 2m wide metalled surface was excavated in the centre of the entrance passage and formed
part of a large early paved courtyard (75m 2 ) in the northern part of the enclosure.
A partially destroyed circular wall trench in the centre of the site was interpreted as a round
house, 6m-7m in diameter. A hearth (II) was found beside and on top of the southern part of
this trench and evidently post-dates the possible hut. Charcoal from the hearth returned a 2Σ
date between A.D. 537 and A.D. 995. The southern side of the hut trench touched a wall of
the souterrain.
The souterrain was revealed in the southern part of the enclosure and contained a number of
backfilled clay deposits. A small number of animal bones and fragments of a bone comb were
found in its primary fill. The floor in the northern part of the souterrain was covered by a
burnt layer which had originated from Hearth II. A hearth and an iron leather-scorer were
identified in one of the upper fills and indicate a temporary re-use of the structure when it
was already half backfilled. A bronze ring-pin was also recovered on top of the eastern wall of
the souterrain.
A number of radiocarbon dates were retrieved from various contexts inside the souterrain.
Charcoal samples from the butts of timber roofing props on the floor of the souterrain
returned dates of A.D. 555-995 or A.D. 340-890; and A.D. 581-1016 [all 2Σ]. The use of the
souterrain was roughly contemporary with Hearth II (A.D. 537- 995) because burnt remains
from the functioning hearth had washed down to the open floor of the souterrain.
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