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

Dublin
‘Dun Emer’, Lusk, Co. Dublin
Early Medieval Settlement Enclosure
Grid reference: 32081 25418
SMR: N/A
Excavation Licence No: 05E0848
Excavation duration/year: 2005
Site director: A. Giacometti (Arch-Tech Ltd.)
Excavation at Lusk – in advance of a residential development – revealed Bronze Age activity,
including an early Bronze Age hut and hearth and later Bronze Age ditch, an early medieval
settlement enclosure, which dated between the seventh and ninth centuries, and associated field
systems. The enclosure was centrally situated within a series of radiating ditches which extended for
over 70m to the north, east and west. The site was situated on a low rise above lands prone to
flooding. The settlement’s location also afforded excellent views of the surrounding countryside (Fig.
116).
The settlement enclosure was D-shaped and measured approximately 35m in diameter (Fig. 117).
The surrounding ditch was 2.5m wide and 1m deep and there was evidence for an inner bank. A
rough cobbled surface lined the base of the ditch although its function is uncertain. However,
evidence for intense burning on the base suggests this sheltered area was possibly used for smallscale
iron smithing. The ditch was regularly maintained and radiocarbon dates of A.D. 681-870 and
A.D. 688-883, with the probability favouring the later side, indicates a ninth-century date for the final
use of the settlement.
The settlement’s occupants utilised a large field boundary, which ran east-west, to form the northern
part of their enclosure. The stratigraphic relationship between this and the settlement’s remaining
enclosing element shows that the field boundary pre-dated the settlement and was potentially
excavated prior to the mid-seventh century.
Artefacts were absent from the site. Small quantities of metallurgical waste indicate low levels of tool
repair and possible production within the enclosure ditch. Animal bone came from both the main
settlement enclosure ditch and the neighbouring eastern enclosure (see below).
The settlement was entered at the south, where the ditch was deepest, and a set of large postholes
suggested the former presence of a large timber bridge over the ditch.
Two oval or circular structures were present within the enclosure. They were defined by postholes
and measured 6m and 11m in diameter. The larger building had an entrance to the southeast while
the smaller structure had a central hearth with postholes on either side, perhaps to support a spit for
cooking. The hearth was dated to A.D. 596-672. A well or cistern was situated to the east of the
settlement and likely provided water for the occupants.
A sub-square enclosure, which measured 20m in diameter, was situated directly to the east of the
settlement. Its ditch was less substantial and two possible entrances were located at the north while
an entrance to the west facilitated access between both enclosures. The ditch was less well
maintained compared to that of the neighbouring settlement enclosure and was allowed to silt-up
during its lifetime. No features were found within the enclosure so this field may have functioned as
an animal pen. The majority of animal bone was recovered from the ditch and charcoal from its fill
was dated to A.D. 765-890, which relates to a late or abandonment phase for the enclosure.
A third smaller rectangular enclosure was located to the north of the main settlement enclosure and
was defined by a complex of shallow ditches which contained charred seeds. A cereal-drying kiln,
radiocarbon dated to A.D. 644-721, was situated in close proximity to the north of the enclosure and
contained charred cereal remains. Grain chaff and weeds were recovered from the enclosure ditch
and it is probable that this was the primary cereal processing area. Two other cereal-drying kilns were
236