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Cork<br />

Lisduggan North 1, 2 & 3, Co. Cork<br />

Early Medieval Settlement Enclosure(s) & Field Systems<br />

Grid Refs: R42740326 (142746/103269); R43190338 (143195/103381);<br />

R43160335 (143163/103353)<br />

SMR Nos: CO023-157; CO023-158; CO023-159<br />

Excavation Licence: E479; E480<br />

Excavation Duration/Year: Summer 1972; Summer 1973<br />

Site Director: D. Twohig & M.J. O’Kelly (University College Cork)<br />

Two levelled univallate enclosures situated close together on a south-facing slope <strong>of</strong><br />

Knocknanuss Hill in Lisduggan North townland were investigated in advance <strong>of</strong> quarry<br />

developments. <strong>The</strong> excavations identified evidence for a field pattern <strong>of</strong> banks and ditches<br />

which preceded two enclosures, one <strong>of</strong> which contained evidence for an outer palisade, three<br />

buildings together with habitation debris (Lisduggan 1); and the other interpreted as an<br />

associated livestock enclosure (Lisduggan 2) (Fig. 75). A further univallate enclosure<br />

(Lisduggan 3) in the same townland was excavated in the summer <strong>of</strong> 1973. Earlier field<br />

patterns, as well as another livestock enclosure, were also identified at this site.<br />

<strong>The</strong> excavations established that all three univallate enclosures were preceded by a series <strong>of</strong><br />

trenches which may have supplied material for a number <strong>of</strong> adjacent field banks. <strong>The</strong> linear<br />

trenches were <strong>of</strong> variable width and depths, e.g. a 40m stretch <strong>of</strong> one linear trench was<br />

excavated beneath Lisduggan 3 and was roughly 0.9m deep, 0.58m wide at the bottom and<br />

1.3m wide at the top. <strong>The</strong> excavations established that these linear trenches had not<br />

completely silted up when the three enclosures were built, and that they all appeared to<br />

belong to a contemporary field network.<br />

No remains <strong>of</strong> banks adjacent to the linear trenches were identified beneath Lisduggan 1 and<br />

Lisduggan 2 though this was explained by disturbances associated with the subsequent<br />

ploughing and levelling <strong>of</strong> the sites. Excavation at Lisduggan 3 identified the remains <strong>of</strong> a<br />

small field bank, surviving to a height <strong>of</strong> only 0.3m when the enclosure was built. <strong>The</strong><br />

denuded form <strong>of</strong> this field bank suggested that it was not longer functional at this time. No<br />

artefacts, bone or charcoal were found in the fills <strong>of</strong> the linear trenches preceding the three<br />

enclosures. <strong>The</strong> pattern <strong>of</strong> linear trenches was very irregular and is suggestive <strong>of</strong> more than<br />

one small series <strong>of</strong> fields. <strong>The</strong> best parallel to this can be found in Co. Limerick at the<br />

complexes at Cush (Ó Riordáin 1940) and Lough Gur (Ó Riordáin 1949).<br />

Lisduggan 1 was approximately elliptical in plan (60m by 45m), defined by a U-shaped ditch<br />

with a depth <strong>of</strong> 1.2m. Cuttings through its bank and ditch revealed a palisade trench 0.5m<br />

wide and 0.3m deep on the outer face <strong>of</strong> the enclosure bank. <strong>The</strong> original entrance was<br />

located along its southern perimeter and consisted <strong>of</strong> an entrance causeway about 3m wide<br />

with no evidence for postholes or any structures within its vicinity. Every trench opened<br />

within the interior produced charcoal and bone to varying extents. <strong>The</strong> densest habitation<br />

deposits was revealed in the southwest quadrant where three houses, identified as dark<br />

bands containing a mixture <strong>of</strong> soil, charcoal and bone and the charred remains <strong>of</strong> a few<br />

postholes, were revealed. House 1 was more or less circular in plan with an average diameter<br />

<strong>of</strong> 6m. House 2 was roughly circular in plan and was situated to the east <strong>of</strong> House 1. Little<br />

over half <strong>of</strong> this structure was excavated though what was showed that it had roughly the<br />

same diameter <strong>of</strong> House 1. House 3 overlay House 2 and was rectangular in form (7m by<br />

5.5m). <strong>The</strong> close setting and small diameters (50-80mm) <strong>of</strong> the surviving postholes <strong>of</strong> these<br />

three structures indicate that they were probably post-and-wattle built.<br />

An extensive gravel spread was revealed between the doorways <strong>of</strong> the three houses. A pit<br />

(2m by 1.5m and 0.5m deep) was excavated in the centre <strong>of</strong> the gravel spread and may have<br />

been used to collect and retain run-<strong>of</strong>f rainfall from the spread. Three hearths were also<br />

excavated in the south-west quadrant <strong>of</strong> the enclosure and were located in the vicinity <strong>of</strong> the<br />

houses. None were delimited by stones but were identified as intensely burnt soil mixed with<br />

charcoal and animal bone. Various objects including fragments <strong>of</strong> spindle-whorls, crucibles,<br />

160

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