EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Meath
possibly a foundation deposit, revealing the continuation of pagan practices or at least
demonstrating a continuation of past traditions or superstitions after the arrival of
Christianity.
A complex sequence of dividing ditches and gullies, which created small plots, was situated to
the north and west of the circular enclosure and mostly within the outer enclosure. Their
stratigraphic relationships were difficult to determine and they were also, unfortunately,
devoid of datable material and chronologically diagnostic artefacts. The ditches probably
functioned as drainage channels and may also have demarcated vegetable and/or cereal
plots. It is likely that they were related to the later expansion of the site when the outer
enclosure was constructed.
Further enclosure activity occurred to the north of the outer enclosure consisting of a
northern annex and smaller D-shaped enclosure. The primary fill of the annex ditch was
dated to A.D. 564-666 which is earlier than the dates from the outer enclosure. This could be
interpreted as an anomaly because the annex ditch respected the outer enclosure. However,
it is also possible that this was an external plot or field that was contemporary with the
circular enclosure and it was subsequently cut by/appended onto the later outer enclosure.
Two oval enclosures were revealed beyond the confines of the outer enclosure. The enclosure
to the north – radiocarbon dated to A.D. 383-560 – was oval, with internal dimensions of
8.2m x 5.93m. Two lengths of curving ditch that formed an oval enclosure were situated to
the south of the site. This had internal dimensions of 9m by 8.2m. A radiocarbon date of A.D.
530-648 was retrieved from the structure. A cereal-drying kiln was located in the latter and
one of the enclosure’s gullies from the former contained charcoal, cereal grains, chaff from
cultivated oats and barley as well as weed seeds. It is likely therefore that the enclosures
were related to arable activity, such as cereal processing, rather than features that enclosed
or defined a dwelling.
A total of 29 pits and depressions – many of which were hearths – had evidence of burning
either through charcoal-rich fills or oxidisation of clays. Dated examples spanned the fourth
until the twelfth centuries and it appears that the majority had a domestic rather than
industrial function.
The finds assemblage from Baronstown was small. Personal dress items included a ringed
pin, nine bone pins, a bird-headed brooch (which dates to the seventh century), a glass bead,
a composite bone comb fragment and a fragment of curved tubing from a bracelet.
Functional items included iron blades, a needle, a spindle whorl, a spherical lead weight with
broken iron attachment and various fragments of unidentifiable objects. Due to the
waterlogged nature of the circular enclosure ditch, 308 wooden artefacts were recovered
including bucket and barrel staves, a near intact turned wooden bowl and an associated
wooden scoop. The nature of the wooden artefacts, often broken or degraded, indicated that
the inner enclosure ditch was used as a repository for domestic waste material. Iron slag was
also present in a number of contexts although no metallurgical features were present. This
suggests that much of the ironworking process occurred off-site but in the proximity to the
settlement.
Animal bone occurred in large quantities at Baronstown. The three main domesticates of
cattle, sheep/goat and pig dominated the faunal assemblage and beef accounted for more
than 80% of meat for all phases, with pig being the next most important meat source. No
specialised dump areas (associated with activities such as primary butchery or craftwork)
were observed. The assemblage would therefore seem to represent the domestic refuse of
the site’s inhabitants.
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