EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Louth
‘Lissachiggel’, Doolargy, Co. Louth
Early Medieval Cashel
Grid reference: J10141302 (310146/313021)
SMR: LH004-050
Excavation Licence No: N/A
Excavation duration: September 1940
Site director: Davies, M.A. (OPW)
Excavation was undertaken at the upland cashel and hut sites at Lissachiggel, in the
townland of Doolargy, as part of the unemployment relief scheme in September 1940.
Seventeen hut were recorded within, and abutting, the cashel wall. Based on artefactual and
construction evidence, the huts were built during the latter part of the early medieval period
and the seventeenth or eighteenth centuries. Those belonging to the early medieval period
will be discussed here. The cashel is situated on marshland at 244m OD. A number of
unenclosed huts and field systems are evident in the cashel’s surrounding landscape.
The cashel was roughly circular and measured approximately 58m east-west by 55m northsouth
(Fig. 208). Its wall was constructed with medium to large stones and a core of gravel.
It survived to a height of 1.8m. Evidence for a palisade was suggested by dark patches on
the wall, 3.6m apart, which contrasted with the rubble-fill. Posts, 15cm in diameter, may
have been positioned along the wall top to form the palisade. Evidence for a surrounding
ditch was identified to the north and east of the wall. An entrance, bounded by upright
blocks, was noted to the south and was 0.9m wide. Finds around the entrance included
charcoal, three flints, half a blue glass bead and two pottery sherds (probably souterrain
ware). Pottery sherds are recorded from the majority of structures and are described as
coarse wares. It is likely that the majority represent hand-made souterrain ware vessels.
Davies classified the huts under a number of headings –
1. Clustered huts in the interior: A (North and South), B (East and West), C (East and
West)
2. Isolated huts in the interior: B (South), D
3. Huts that abutted the cashel wall and yielded no burnt bone: E, K, N, O
4. Huts that abutted the cashel wall and yielded lots of burnt bone: F, G, H, I, L (Fig.
209).
Group 4 will not be discussed as they are probably later and may date to the seventeenth or
eighteenth century. Most of group 3, except for E, are also probably later additions. The
remaining huts were most likely built during the early medieval period but it is not known if
all were contemporary with the construction of the cashel or if they represent a number of
occupation phases (Fig. 1).
Hut A North was circular and measured approximately 1.4m in diameter. The walls were two
stones thick and the entrance was probably located to the north-east. The south end of the
hut was paved with rough slabs and an occupation layer (consisting of charcoal and nine
coarse pottery sherds) was concentrated on the lower side probably as a result of the hut’s
sloping floor. Hut A South, connected to Hut A North, was a little over 3m in diameter. It had
a hearth towards the centre and a large boulder bedded in the natural to the west may have
functioned as a seat. An area of paving was recorded to the east. Charcoal and artefacts,
including pottery fragments and flint chips, were discovered.
Hut B East measured about 3.5m squared and was one of the largest buildings in the cashel.
The walls were formed with large uprights and an entrance may have been located to the
west. Two hearths were centrally placed and charcoal was evident in large quantities around
them. Hazelnut shells, burnt bone and burnt flint chips were found within the fire debris and
other finds included possible flint tools and coarse pottery fragments. Hut B West was
connected to the eastern hut. It was roughly rectangular and measured 1.8m by 2.4m. The
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