EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Meath
Kells, Co. Meath
Early Medieval Ecclesiastical Settlement
Grid reference: N739760 (27390/27600)
SMR No: ME017-044
Excavation License No: N/A
Excavation duration/year: October – December 1987; April – May 1988
Site director: G. Byrne (Freelance)
Excavations at Kells – in advance of a proposed new Garda headquarters – revealed a range
of features dating from potentially the Bronze Age until the post medieval periods. Early
medieval activity was represented by part of an enclosure ditch and some pits outside the
ecclesiastical site at Kells. The site was located immediately to the northwest of the stoneroofed
oratory known as ‘St Columba's House’ – dated between the eighth and ninth
centuries from scientific analysis of its mortar
(www.megalithicireland.com/High%20Cross%20Kells.htm) – and 150m north-north-west of
the round tower. The site was situated on the summit and eastern side of a low hill.
Part of a V-sectioned ditch, which measured approximately 2.2m wide and 1.5m deep, was
revealed for a length of about 20m directly to the north-west of St Columba's House. This
formed part of a circular enclosure that was approximately 22m in diameter.
The ditch expanded in width and depth at its northern end before terminating at a potential
entrance. The entrance was defined by a large number of stakeholes. Many of these formed
two main rows which ran parallel to the ditch end. The ditch was partly rock-cut and its fill
consisted of several different layers with large quantities of animal bone. Bronze artefacts
included a plain brooch from one of the basal fills that possibly dates to the seventh century,
a needle and a ring fragment. Items of iron included a ring-handle, a hook and a knife while
ironworking was indicated by the presence of a furnace bottom and slag. Stone finds included
a bead, whetstones, a flat perforated disc and a number of naturally water-rounded stones. A
blue-glass bead and a bone pin were also retrieved.
A shallow ash- and charcoal-filled pit to the west of the ditch contained a green and opaque
yellow glass bead.
Further excavation of the enclosure ditch in 1988 (three sections were investigated) produced
a large quantity of artefacts including a stone spindle whorl, a socketed iron punch or awl, an
iron ring, slag, fragments of a bronze ring, a bone cylinder and the head of a bone pin.
Animal bone was also abundant. Another pit was excavated outside the enclosure and it
contained a lot of charcoal and ash. The only artefact was part of a polished bone pin. These
excavations suggest that there was settlement activity at Kells potentially prior to the
foundation of the monastery in A.D. 804 by St Colmcille of Iona.
(No plans were available for this site).
References:
Byrne, B. 1987:041. Kells, Townparks, Co. Meath’, www.excavations.ie.
Byrne, B. 1988:057. Kells, Townparks, Co. Meath’, www.excavations.ie.
Electronic Resource:
www.megalithicireland.com.
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