10.01.2014 Views

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

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

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

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

Cork<br />

Ballynacarriga, Co. Cork<br />

Early Medieval Settlement Enclosure<br />

Grid reference: 208273 79034<br />

SMR: N/A<br />

Excavation Licence No: 01E0567<br />

Excavation duration/year: 2001<br />

Site director: D. Noonan (Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.)<br />

Excavations at Ballynacarriga – in advance <strong>of</strong> a road development – revealed an early<br />

medieval square-shaped settlement enclosure with an upper appended L-shaped enclosure<br />

(Fig. 60). Both enclosed a number <strong>of</strong> features related to settlement, including structures,<br />

possible structures, pits and hearths, and agriculture, including cereal-drying kilns and<br />

outbuildings. Radiocarbon dates suggest a potential date-range for the site between the early<br />

fifth and early eleventh centuries although there is also evidence for late Bronze Age activity.<br />

<strong>The</strong> settlement was situated on the south-facing slope and floor <strong>of</strong> a small valley.<br />

<strong>The</strong> square-shaped settlement enclosure measured 35m by 40m and had a possible entrance<br />

to the southwest. <strong>The</strong> presence <strong>of</strong> a bank was suggested by a lack <strong>of</strong> archaeological features<br />

within 1.5m <strong>of</strong> the ditch. <strong>The</strong> ditch was V-shaped at the north and was up to 2.5m deep. <strong>The</strong><br />

remainder <strong>of</strong> the ditch was U-shaped and was approximately 1.7m in depth. It varied in width<br />

between 2m and 4m. Charcoal from the lower fill <strong>of</strong> the ditch’s south-eastern section was<br />

radiocarbon dated to A.D. 416-652. Finds were few and included three pieces <strong>of</strong> flint debitage<br />

and a possible flint core. Poor soil preservation meant that animal bone was not recovered in<br />

large quantities.<br />

<strong>The</strong> majority <strong>of</strong> features within the settlement were identified in the south-western part <strong>of</strong><br />

the enclosure. <strong>The</strong>se included a series <strong>of</strong> successive structures, a souterrain, a small pen or<br />

barn, large pits and an open hearth. Structure I was a central circular house. It was defined<br />

by stake-holes and measured 8.6m in diameter. A number <strong>of</strong> deep postholes within the house<br />

may have held ro<strong>of</strong> supports. An entrance may have been located to the southeast where<br />

double postholes were identified. This was the most substantial dwelling within the enclosure<br />

and appears to have been the earliest building.<br />

<strong>The</strong> round house was cut by a possible rectangular structure <strong>of</strong> which the north-western<br />

section survived (Structure II). It was defined by a number <strong>of</strong> postholes and shallow features.<br />

Only a tiny portion <strong>of</strong> the building survived and it was not possible to reconstruct its original<br />

size.<br />

An arc <strong>of</strong> postholes and stake-holes were identified within the northern half <strong>of</strong> Structure I and<br />

they respected a large pit that was situated within the circular house. <strong>The</strong>y continued outside<br />

the structure which suggests that this was a separate building (Structure IV). It is unclear if<br />

the postholes and stake-holes formed a complete circular building or if they acted as a barrier<br />

to the pit which may have functioned as a well. Also, its chronological relationship with the<br />

round house is unclear.<br />

A large pit, open hearth and small pits were located to the immediate south <strong>of</strong> the round<br />

house. Charcoal from a stony fill within the large pit returned a late Bronze Age date which<br />

indicates earlier activity on the site. Finds within the pit included a flint scraper, a possible<br />

anvil stone and a whetstone. <strong>The</strong> hearth was situated above the southern edge <strong>of</strong> the backfilled<br />

pit and this in turn was succeeded by a number <strong>of</strong> smaller cooking pits which contained<br />

charcoal and burnt animal bone. One <strong>of</strong> the pits also produced a dark blue glass dumbbell<br />

bead which potentially dates between the eighth and twelfth centuries. An unstratified<br />

fragment <strong>of</strong> a white opaque glass bead was also found in this area.<br />

114

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!