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AR01055_EMAP_Gazetteer_of_Sites_4-2_10.pdf - The Heritage ...

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Clare<br />

<strong>The</strong> main and only major occupation layer from the D-shaped platform included a socketed<br />

iron sickle, a tanged iron knife, a stone spindle-whorl, a perforated iron strap, possibly from a<br />

wooden bucket, as well as Bronze Age lithics and a prehistoric perforated dog whelk. An early<br />

medieval ringed-pin was recovered inside the cave entrance where it seems to have been<br />

deliberately and carefully placed under a flat stone.<br />

A relatively large quantity <strong>of</strong> animal bone was recovered from the entrance chamber and<br />

platform and appears to represent butchery and consumption. Bones <strong>of</strong> cattle, sheep and pig<br />

outside the cave entrance were associated with primary butchering waste. Consumption<br />

appears to have taken place inside the cave where most <strong>of</strong> the faunal remains represented<br />

meat-bearing elements <strong>of</strong> cattle, sheep and pig. Domestic fowl, mallard, goose bones, cat<br />

and dog were also recovered.<br />

A Viking necklace <strong>of</strong> 71 glass beads was found in the area where much <strong>of</strong> the Late Bronze<br />

Age activity was identified. A number <strong>of</strong> the beads were segmented and foil-covered and are<br />

similar to examples recovered from Kilmainham, Islandbridge as well as from the trading site<br />

at Birka, Sweden. <strong>The</strong> necklace may have been stolen and hidden in the cave.<br />

Fig. 52: Areas <strong>of</strong> archaeological activity at Glencurran cave, Co. Clare (after Dowd 2009a).<br />

95

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