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

Cork
Structure III was a small building to the south of the above features. It was rectangular in
plan and was formed by three slot trenches with its open side to the north. No finds were
retrieved from its slot trenches and the building may have functioned as a small barn or
perhaps a chicken coop. It appears too small to have held animals.
A souterrain was located to the northwest of the main area of activity. It was U-shaped and
consisted of four main chambers. It may have been stone- or timber-lined and it is possible
the stones were robbed-out at some point. No finds were recovered from the souterrain fills.
Two large pits were located directly to the east of the souterrain but their function is unclear
due to an absence of finds or inclusions within their fills. Their chronological relationship to
other features on site is similalrly unknown.
The north-western part of the enclosure included a number of pits, a cluster of stake-holes,
isolated postholes and a hearth. These were all located on sloping ground and therefore
probably represent the remains of features related to temporary and peripheral activity. A
black glass bead, with white and red speckles, was found in the vicinity of the stake-hole
cluster.
A similar range of features, on sloping ground, were found in the north-eastern part of the
settlement enclosure including pits, stake-holes, postholes, a hearth and a sunken oven.
These also appear to represent peripheral activity a short distance from the main settlement
focus. One of the pits, possibly a refuse pit, contained two fragments of iron slag and pieces
of flint debitage.
The south-eastern area of the enclosure, similalrly to the area directly beside it to the west,
was rich in settlement features including another souterrain, a possible associated structure
(Structure VI), another circular building (Structure V), and a number of pits. A cereal-drying
kiln was also identified in this area and all these features were situated on flat ground.
The souterrain was J-shaped and consisted of two passages connected by a narrow crawl
space. Fills within it contained hazelnut shell fragments and occasional burnt animal bone
fragments. Frequent charcoal fragments along the western and southern edges of the cut
suggest the souterrain may have been timber-lined or that it utilised wooden structural
supports before it was burnt.
A narrow linear trench that was 5.7m long and 0.2m wide (Structure VI) was located
immediately to the north of the souterrain. It contained a posthole at each end. A second slot
trench was situated immediately to its south. The larger trench may have formed one side of
a rectangular structure related to the souterrain. Postholes and pits to the east may have
formed another component of the structure. Pits, postholes and stake-holes were also evident
in the vicinity of the souterrain. No structural plans could be reconstructed but they pointed
to intense activity within this part of the enclosure.
Structure V measured approximately 3.6m by 5m and was defined by ten postholes and two
large internal postholes which possibly held roof supports. The postholes were evenly spaced
on average 1.4m apart and were similar in size and depth.
Finally, a cereal-drying kiln was located within the south-eastern area. The kiln truncated the
circular building (Structure V) and was therefore a later feature on site. This makes sense
because it would have been dangerous to locate a cereal-drying kiln so close to dwellings due
to fire risks. The kiln was probably used after the settlement features in this part of the
enclosure were abandoned. Charcoal from the kiln’s primary deposit was dated to A.D. 775-
1022.
The L-shaped enclosure – a later extension to the main settlement – ran north from the
square enclosure for 50m before it turned west for 30m. The ditch had a maximum width of
3.3m and was approximately 2.5m deep. No artefacts were retrieved from the ditch but
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