EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Louth
Archaeological investigations in the townland of Marshes Upper, in advance of a number of
infrastructural developments since the 1980s, have revealed an intensely settled early
medieval landscape, and most notably from the latter part of the period as revealed by the
excavation of ten souterrains. The souterrains were both enclosed and unenclosed and dating
evidence – both radiocarbon and artefactual – suggests they were utilised between the
seventh and twelfth centuries. Other features included an extensive field system, a cerealdrying
kiln and a structure. The earliest feature was the kiln which dated to the Iron
Age/early medieval transitional period. This was followed, from the seventh century, with the
large-scale construction of both open and enclosed settlements and related field enclosures.
A souterrain was identified during site clearance work for the Industrial Development
Authority in October 1980. Subsequent excavations revealed that it was W-shaped in plan
and 21m long. Other features included a mall stone U-shaped hut, some pits and a straight
trench, which was 1.25m wide and 0.7m deep. The latter appeared to define the northern
boundary of the settlement but no evidence for an enclosure was evident. Artefacts
recovered in association with the souterrain, hut and trench included over 50 sherds of
souterrain ware, an iron belt-buckle, a plain bronze strap-end, struck flint flakes and a small
quantity of animal bone. Eight Hiberno-Scandinavian silver pennies, dating to AD 995-1000,
were also recovered from the fill of the souterrain entrance.
In 1981, excavations occurred at another unenclosed souterrain in advance of the
construction of an inner by-pass road. The souterrain was S-shaped and measured 20m in
length. A doorway, comprised of wooden jambs recessed into the side-walls and mortised
into a lintel beam, was present 7m inside the entrance and the outline of a wooden sill was
visible on the floor. The majority of artefacts were recovered from an organic fill at the
entrance and included approximately 50 sherds of souterrain ware, about twelve whetstones,
a chert leaf-shaped arrowhead, a small bronze ring-pin and a bronze cruciform belt-buckle
tongue with decorated red glass terminals.
Excavation in 1982 – at the Finnabair Industrial Estate – revealed five dry-stone souterrains
and associated enclosures known as Marshes Upper 3 and 4 (Fig. 210). They were situated
on two small, but prominent, hillocks less than 60m apart.
Site 3 consisted of two souterrains (A and B) and an enclosure. Souterrain A was Z-shaped
and measured 35m in length. It varied in width between 1m and 2m and the roof had a
maximum height of 1.9m. Two jamb slots, which probably supported posts for a gate or door,
were positioned between the first and second turns in the passage. Primary material from the
entrance contained large quantities of charcoal and an iron nail. The former produced an uncalibrated
radiocarbon date of A.D. 688±55. A bronze pin and an iron knife were retrieved
from the fill above it. The gallery contained two air vents and was devoid of artefacts.
Souterrain B was smaller than Souterrain A. It was L-shaped and measured 24m in length.
The passage was between 1m and 1.4m wide and 1.2m high. The chamber was 1.1m high
and 1.4m in width. It was rougher, in construction, compared to Souterrain A and also had a
number of defensive features such as a drop hole. Finds, in secondary deposits, from the
entranceway and passage included fifteen sherds of souterrain ware, fragments from a bone
comb and the remains of a neonatal pig.
The enclosure (55m by 60m) completely encircled Souterrain A while it stopped short, on
either side, of Souterrain B. A causewayed entrance was present to the north and the ditch
varied in width and depth between 1.2m and 2m, and 0.2m and 1.4m respectively. No
evidence for a bank survived. Occupation layers, of ash, charcoal, shell and animal bone,
were found overlying a primary silt layer within the ditch. Other finds included sherds of
souterrain ware and three sherds of E ware. An outer concentric gully was also detected, 3m
outside the ditch, and it may have related to the enclosure.
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