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

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Dublin<br />

Glebe (Site 43), Co. Dublin<br />

Early Medieval Settlement Enclosure<br />

Grid reference: O22892362 (322892/223620)<br />

SMR: N/A<br />

Excavation Licence No: 00E0758<br />

Excavation duration: August 2000 – May 2002<br />

Site director: M. Seaver (Valerie J. Keeley Ltd.)<br />

Excavations at Glebe – in advance <strong>of</strong> the construction <strong>of</strong> a road interchange – revealed a circular<br />

early medieval enclosed settlement and associated field system dating between the late seventh and<br />

late ninth centuries AD. Slightly earlier cereal processing was also evident in the form <strong>of</strong> four cerealdrying<br />

kilns. <strong>The</strong> enclosure was situated on a steep scarp, on the townland boundary between Glebe<br />

and Laughanstown, and on rich agricultural land.<br />

Four ‘figure-<strong>of</strong>-eight’ cereal-drying kilns were situated to the west <strong>of</strong> the enclosed settlement in the<br />

townland <strong>of</strong> Laughanstown. Two returned radiocarbon dates between the mid sixth and mid seventh<br />

centuries, which probably places this agricultural activity before the construction <strong>of</strong> the settlement<br />

enclosure (see below for radiocarbon dates).<br />

<strong>The</strong> enclosure measured 46m in internal diameter and had an entrance at the south-east (Fig. 132).<br />

Large slabs and boulders within the ditch on either side <strong>of</strong> the entrance suggest that the bank on<br />

either side was revetted with stone. <strong>The</strong> enclosing ditch contained large quantities <strong>of</strong> animal bone<br />

and evidence for butchery was recorded on the three main domesticates <strong>of</strong> cattle, sheep and pig.<br />

Middens <strong>of</strong> seashell show that the inhabitants utilised the nearby sea shore which was approximately<br />

3km away to the east. A portion <strong>of</strong> the bank survived on the western side while there was evidence<br />

for a post-built fence or palisade on the northern side <strong>of</strong> the enclosure. <strong>The</strong> latter was possibly<br />

constructed after erosion <strong>of</strong> the bank.<br />

<strong>The</strong> interior was heavily ploughed but a cluster <strong>of</strong> postholes, a hearth and a pit, measuring 8m by<br />

5m, were identified <strong>of</strong>f-centre. <strong>The</strong>y may possibly denote the area <strong>of</strong> a former dwelling.<br />

A reasonable number <strong>of</strong> artefacts were recovered from the site including ringed pin fragments, bone<br />

pins (including an unusual zoomorphic example with the head stylised as a horse’s head), a bone<br />

scoop with dot and spiral decoration, blue glass beads, a stone spindle whorl, a broken rotary quern<br />

and iron slag. Possible ecclesiastical connections, with the nearby monastic site at Tully, were<br />

indicated by the presence <strong>of</strong> inscribed worked pieces <strong>of</strong> wood. One piece featured a raised cross<br />

while another contained an inscription <strong>of</strong> the word ‘Deo’ and a chi-rho symbol. <strong>The</strong>se motif pieces<br />

may indicate that the inhabitants were involved in the manufacture and decoration <strong>of</strong> church<br />

manuscripts or artefacts.<br />

Two smaller ditches radiated from the enclosure to the south and represented field enclosures. <strong>The</strong><br />

curving hedgerow <strong>of</strong> the townland boundary complemented one <strong>of</strong> these which demonstrates an<br />

associated field system and suggests the early medieval antiquity <strong>of</strong> townland divisions. When the<br />

two field ditches were taken together they formed a petal-shaped field enclosure. Material from a<br />

posthole marking one <strong>of</strong> the boundaries was dated between the late seventh and late ninth centuries.<br />

263

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