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

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Dublin<br />

Lusk, Co. Dublin<br />

Early Medieval Ecclesiastical Settlement<br />

Grid reference: 321600 254440<br />

SMR: DU008:010<br />

Excavation Licence No: C010<br />

Excavation duration: June – July 2005<br />

Site director: A. O’Connell (Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.)<br />

Excavation at Lusk occurred 200m west <strong>of</strong> the round tower and at the junction <strong>of</strong> Church Road and<br />

Tree Lane. It revealed part <strong>of</strong> the ecclesiastical enclosure ditch, a cemetery and a souterrain (Fig.<br />

120). It now appears that the enclosure ditch represents a third outer enclosure around the<br />

ecclesiastical site.<br />

A 5m portion <strong>of</strong> the ecclesiastical enclosure ditch was revealed within the excavated area <strong>of</strong> the site.<br />

It was 2.5m wide and 1.5m deep and had a V-shape pr<strong>of</strong>ile. <strong>The</strong> primary fill consisted <strong>of</strong> redeposited<br />

boulder clay on the base and western side <strong>of</strong> the ditch cut. It has been suggested that this originated<br />

from the bank and that the latter was situated externally to the ditch. However, this would be an<br />

unusual occurrence as associated banks at both ecclesiastical and secular early medieval settlements<br />

occur internally to the ditch. <strong>The</strong> remaining deposits contained animal bone and analysis indicates it<br />

represented the remains <strong>of</strong> food refuse. <strong>The</strong> only other finds were an iron nail and a piece <strong>of</strong> slag.<br />

<strong>The</strong> slag came from the second ditch fill which was radiocarbon dated to AD 420-600.<br />

O’Connell, through an integration <strong>of</strong> his excavation with previous excavations and an analysis <strong>of</strong><br />

street plans, has identified a third enclosing element to the ecclesiastical site at Lusk which enclosed<br />

an area measuring approximately 515m north-south by 280m east-west. It also appears that the<br />

outer ditch was in use during the fifth and sixth centuries and was contemporary with the earliest<br />

phase <strong>of</strong> the monastery.<br />

<strong>The</strong> cemetery was located to the west and externally <strong>of</strong> the enclosure. Eight burials were revealed<br />

within the excavated area and all were supine extended inhumations and orientated west-east.<br />

Disarticulated human bone from the topsoil suggests further burials within the vicinity. <strong>The</strong> burial<br />

ground was mixed but <strong>of</strong> note was the occurrence <strong>of</strong> a grave containing two adult males. Analysis<br />

showed they had multiple blade injuries and were beheaded prior to burial. An iron spearhead was<br />

uncovered in the upper torso <strong>of</strong> one <strong>of</strong> the males. This burial was radiocarbon dated to AD 410-570.<br />

<strong>The</strong>ir position outside the ecclesiastical enclosure is not surprising given that ecclesiastical cemeteries<br />

were reserved mainly for clerics prior to the seventh and eighth centuries.<br />

<strong>The</strong> fragmentary remains <strong>of</strong> a dry-stone-constructed souterrain were also identified to the west <strong>of</strong> the<br />

enclosure ditch and in proximity to the burials. <strong>The</strong> passage was accessed through a short recess and<br />

extended for 12m and beyond the excavation limit. It was 1.7m wide and 1.8m deep and had a welllaid<br />

metalled surface. <strong>The</strong> recess was 1.5 long and a rotary quern stone was reused as one <strong>of</strong> the<br />

ro<strong>of</strong> lintels. <strong>The</strong> passage had two backfilled layers which contained numerous thirteenth-century<br />

pottery sherds. <strong>The</strong> passage was linked to the chamber by a 2.2m long creep-way which also had a<br />

metalled surface. <strong>The</strong> chamber was rectangular in plan and measured 2.2m in length by 1.7m wide.<br />

It similalrly had a metalled surface and backfilled deposits containing twelfth and thirteenth century<br />

pottery sherds.<br />

<strong>The</strong> excavation at Lusk has revealed convincing evidence for the presence <strong>of</strong> a third outer<br />

ecclesiastical enclosure that was designed and constructed during the monastery’s formative years.<br />

Settlement and burial evidence occurred in proximity to the west and outside the enclosure. At least<br />

one <strong>of</strong> the burials was contemporary with the enclosure ditch and shows that this community were<br />

denied access to bury their dead within the ecclesiastical site’s boundaries during the fifth and sixth<br />

centuries. <strong>The</strong> souterrain likely represents an unenclosed settlement that was probably built during<br />

the eighth century or sometime after and possibly when the ecclesiastical site was an established and<br />

bustling place.<br />

243

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