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Cork<br />

Brigown, Co. Cork<br />

Early Medieval Settlement Enclosure<br />

Grid Ref: R82301190 (18230/11190)<br />

SMR No: N/A<br />

Excavation Licence: 03E1153<br />

Excavation Duration/Year: November - December 2003<br />

Site Director: M. Carroll (John Purcell Archaeological Consultancy)<br />

An excavation at Brigown in advance <strong>of</strong> a residential development partially revealed the<br />

western outer limits <strong>of</strong> a possible enclosure with extensive evidence for metalworking waste<br />

at its north-western end. Several other pits and linear features were also excavated in its<br />

interior and exterior though most could not be stratigraphically linked to each other or to the<br />

larger enclosing ditches. <strong>The</strong> site is bordered on its south-eastern side by a tributary <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Gradoge River and an early monastery (‘Brigown’) with a church, holy well. A round tower is<br />

located 400m to the north-west, and St. Finnchu’s stone, a large millstone (probably a<br />

horizontal mill runner stone), is located within the tributary <strong>of</strong> the Gradoge River close to the<br />

southern corner <strong>of</strong> the site. <strong>The</strong> Book <strong>of</strong> Lismore records the place-name ‘Bri-gobh-unn’<br />

translated by Joyce (1870, 34) as the ‘bree’ or hill <strong>of</strong> the smith (‘gobha’). Power (1980, 13)<br />

attributes this name to St. Finnchu and states that it was named in honour <strong>of</strong> the seven<br />

master smiths who worked there. Interestingly, the excavation uncovered large quantities <strong>of</strong><br />

metal slag.<br />

Two large curving ditches, bisected by a large linear ditch, appear to have formed part <strong>of</strong> an<br />

enclosure. <strong>The</strong> curvature <strong>of</strong> the two ditches suggests that the dimensions <strong>of</strong> the original<br />

enclosure were quite substantial, possibly measuring 40-50m in diameter (Fig. 63). No<br />

evidence for an associated bank was uncovered though a curving field boundary was<br />

depicted in the First Edition O.S. map in the general area <strong>of</strong> the excavated ditch and may<br />

represent a portion <strong>of</strong> the bank.<br />

<strong>The</strong> main enclosure ditch (maximum dimensions <strong>of</strong> 17.8m in length, 2.3m in width and 1.5m<br />

in depth) included fills <strong>of</strong> charcoal and slag-rich deposits. This was bisected by a linear ditch<br />

(maximum dimensions <strong>of</strong> 3.5m wide and 1.33m deep), which was in turn cut by a shallow<br />

ditch. No finds or animal bone were recovered from any <strong>of</strong> these ditches.<br />

A curving linear trench was excavated in the southern half <strong>of</strong> the site inside and parallel to<br />

the enclosing ditch. It was interpreted as a palisade trench, although no stakeholes and only<br />

one posthole was recovered from its base. <strong>The</strong> northern end <strong>of</strong> the feature was cut by a ditch<br />

and there was no evidence for a continuation <strong>of</strong> the trench in the northern half <strong>of</strong> the site.<br />

A possible entrance feature was located at the south end <strong>of</strong> the site and was defined by the<br />

terminus <strong>of</strong> the southern ditch and a large shallow pit, 0.8m further east. <strong>The</strong> possible<br />

palisade trench terminated 1.2m south <strong>of</strong> the ditch terminal and may have formed part <strong>of</strong> a<br />

defended entrance feature.<br />

Several pits and linear features were located outside the enclosure ditches. Those pits and<br />

linear features to the west <strong>of</strong> the northern section <strong>of</strong> the enclosing ditch contained large<br />

quantities <strong>of</strong> charcoal and slag and may have been utilized for the dumping <strong>of</strong> waste or byproducts<br />

associated with metalworking. Charcoal and slag was relatively absent from those<br />

features to the west <strong>of</strong> the southern enclosing section. Several pits, linear features and a<br />

possible posthole were excavated in the interior <strong>of</strong> the possible enclosure. <strong>The</strong>re was no<br />

direct evidence for the process <strong>of</strong> metalworking inside the enclosure though two small pits<br />

displayed evidence for in situ burning. One small bowl-shaped pit with evidence for in situ<br />

burning was interpreted as a possible pit-furnace used for iron smelting.<br />

<strong>The</strong> substantial quantity <strong>of</strong> slag and charcoal at the north-western end <strong>of</strong> the site indicates<br />

that metalworking was undertaken on or in the vicinity <strong>of</strong> the enclosure however no<br />

126

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