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

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

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Kerry<br />

was excavated within the interior <strong>of</strong> the structure. Bone fragments and a little iron slag were<br />

recovered to the north <strong>of</strong> the structure below the stone collapse.<br />

<strong>The</strong> smaller pair <strong>of</strong> conjoined huts (C and D) (Fig. 184) appears to be structurally earlier than<br />

the conjoined huts (A and B) (Fig. 185) and may also precede Phase 2. <strong>The</strong>y however postdate<br />

the enclosure wall as they are built into its fabric. <strong>The</strong> structures (C) - 3.6m-4m<br />

internally- and (D) – 4.5m internally- contained dry-stone walls measuring 1.15m wide and<br />

0.6m high. Though there was no inward inclination in the walls, their size suggests that their<br />

ro<strong>of</strong>s were completed by corbelling.<br />

A large fire-pit was uncovered underlying the rubble in Structure C and contained a<br />

considerable amount <strong>of</strong> peat charcoal, slate-like stones as well as a small flint scraper in its<br />

upper levels. A portion <strong>of</strong> an iron knife was recovered on the floor <strong>of</strong> structure C beside the<br />

fire-pit. No small finds, apart from shell dumps, survived within Structure D.<br />

A number <strong>of</strong> smelting furnaces were excavated on the floor level <strong>of</strong> Structure D and<br />

contained iron slag, fired clay fragments, furnace bottoms and charcoal. A spread <strong>of</strong> peatcharcoal,<br />

iron slag, furnace bottoms, a shallow burnt pit and postholes were also excavated<br />

to the east <strong>of</strong> Structure D- overlying a series <strong>of</strong> drains- and were related to the various<br />

ironworking processes.<br />

<strong>The</strong> peat layer was probably associated with the furnace pits inside Structure D which are<br />

likely to date to the final use <strong>of</strong> this building. <strong>The</strong> recovery <strong>of</strong> a sherd <strong>of</strong> eighth to eleventh<br />

century wheel-made pottery in the peat deposit could be significant because it could provide<br />

a very broad terminus ante quem for the use <strong>of</strong> these clocháns. It also indicates that this<br />

industrial activity, particularly within Structures D and possibly Structure G could have been<br />

undertaken by the occupants <strong>of</strong> Structures A and B in Phase 2 (c. eighth to twelfth century).<br />

Phase 2 involved various structures and featured dating from the seventh/eighth century to<br />

as late as the twelfth century A.D. <strong>The</strong> stone oratory (3.5m by 2.7m internally) was built over<br />

a number <strong>of</strong> primary lintel graves. Its walls survived to a height <strong>of</strong> some four to five courses<br />

at the eastern end (0.45m) and may have originally supported a corbelled dome-shaped ro<strong>of</strong>.<br />

Traces <strong>of</strong> the original oratory floor- trampled clay or daub- was revealed beneath the late<br />

burials. A deposit <strong>of</strong> peat charcoal lay close to its level while charcoal and iron slag was<br />

recovered at a higher level. Two heel-stones were discovered from among the basal course at<br />

the western end and beside the southern wall and may have originally supported a hinged<br />

door for the oratory.<br />

<strong>The</strong> cemetery continued in use after the oratory was built and a group <strong>of</strong> burials to the<br />

southwest and extreme south <strong>of</strong> the oratory appear to post date the oratory. Those to the<br />

southwest have an orientation close to east-west and either lack lintels or were poorly made -<br />

possibly indicative <strong>of</strong> the degeneration <strong>of</strong> a lintel tradition. A small green glass bead was<br />

recovered from one <strong>of</strong> these burials. <strong>The</strong> burials to the extreme south have the greatest<br />

deviation from an east-west orientation and could represent a relatively late group <strong>of</strong> burials.<br />

An internal dividing wall (1m-1.4m wide) was built which separated the burial area from the<br />

site’s western half. It overlay the early habitation evidence and its foundations were at a<br />

higher level than the three burials beside the cross inscribed stone. <strong>The</strong> partial remains <strong>of</strong> a<br />

paved way was uncovered and appears to have lead from the threshold slab <strong>of</strong> the oratory<br />

doorway through an entrance in the dividing wall and linking up with the conjoined Structures<br />

A and B. <strong>The</strong> two conjoined huts (A) - 5.5m internally- and (B) - 6.1m internally- were built<br />

upon the line <strong>of</strong> the primary enclosure wall indicating that it had either fallen into disrepair or<br />

been demolished prior to their construction. An extension <strong>of</strong> the enclosing wall was then<br />

subsequently added to incorporate these huts into the enclosure. <strong>The</strong> structures contained<br />

dry-stone walls (1.3m wide) which survived to maximum height <strong>of</strong> 1.2m. Both structures had<br />

evidence for inward battering though their large size, lack <strong>of</strong> stones amongst the collapse and<br />

internal postholes in structure B might indicate ro<strong>of</strong>s <strong>of</strong> thatch or sod. An arc <strong>of</strong> stones<br />

377

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