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

Kerry
Another primary feature of the site comprised a rectangular wooden posthole structure,
defined by corner postholes, which was also found to directly overlie one of the drainage
trenches. This structure measured 3.8m X 2m and was interpreted as a timber church a
conclusion supported by its shape, orientation and alignment with a number of burials. An
internal post-hole positioned along the longer axis of the structure about one third of the way
from its eastern end was interpreted as a possible wooden altar supported on a single
freestanding post. A drain was also found and identified as a possible sacarium or ablution
drain. A slab-covered sump lay directly outside the doorway and it was suggested that it may
have been used to drain the entrance area outside the church. A context overlying the
wooden church produced a 2-sigma radiocarbon date range from the early seventh-ninth
century indicating that the church was probably in use sometime earlier than this date range
(Sheehan 2009, 196-97, 204).
A total of eighteen early medieval burials were uncovered in the excavated areas to the east,
west and south of the wooden church with the main concentration to the south and east, the
area where the later shrine was located. Most of these graves were aligned with the longer
axis-line of the church indicating they were contemporary with it. Three separate type of
graves existed: simple dug graves, lintel graves and slab-lined cists. No bones survived from
any and no consistent chronological pattern emerged for the three types of graves. One
definite slab-lined cist was excavated. Although no stratigraphical relationship was established
between it and the other graves, O’Brien (2003, 66) has suggested that this type of grave
dates to the fifth and sixth centuries.
One of the oldest graves in the cemetery and the second oldest in the cluster of graves to the
south of the church – where it cut through the sacrarium – was found to lie directly beneath
the corner-post shrine. It was interpreted as a a ‘special’ lintel-type grave of a possible ‘saint’
or founder of the site as it lay directly beneath the later shrine, several of its side stones and
lintels bore clear evidence of tooling and one of its covering stones at the head of the grave
was in the form of a rough stone cross. Furthermore, this lintel-grave appears to have been
the focus of some veneration resulting in the worn state of the upper edges of its side-stones
and covering lintel; evidence probably ‘consistent with devotional pilgrimage activity at the
grave’ (Ó Carragáin 2003, 134; Sheehan 2009, 198-99).
The enclosed church and cemetery were associated with an early domestic sector uncovered
in the centre and southwestern quadrant of the site. Stake-and post-holes near the centre of
enclosure indicated the existence of a conjoined circular building and other possible
structures (Sheehan 1996a; 1997; 1998, 1999b). The long axis of the conjoined building ran
NE/SW and both its houses measured just over 3m in diameter each. The central area of the
conjoined house was disturbed by a pit which contained two coins dating to the reign of
Edward I in the late thirteenth century and the northwest corner was disturbed by ceallunach
burials. There were no artefacts directly associated with the conjoined house except
occasional rubbing stones (Sheehan 1999b).
At least one rectangular posthole structure was excavated in the southwestern quadrant of
the site close to a metalworking area (Sheehan 1998, 2000). The conjoined house and
rectilinear structure(s) as well as the area of the shrine were all associated with B and E
ware, though the imported pottery was most frequently found in the southwestern sector.
Seventh-century glass was also associated with the buildings (Laing 2006, 230). The
discovery of Bii Mediterranean pottery in the site confirms that the domestic sector was
already in use by the mid-sixth century (Sheehan 2009, 196; Doyle 2009, 40-41).
The southwestern quadrant of the site appears to have been used as a smelting and possibly
smithing area indicated by the evidence for iron slag, crucibles, furnace bottoms, possible
furnace areas, hearths and a possible stone anvil (Sheehan 1993b, 1995a, 1995b, 1996b,
2000). Features excavated particularly within this area, included pits with burnt sides and
bases containing iron slag, charcoal, crucibles, animal bone, refuse pits and spreads with
dumped metalworking waste and the remains of a north-south lintelled drain (Sheehan
339