10.01.2014 Views

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

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

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

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

Limerick<br />

<strong>The</strong> ‘Spectacles’ (Lough Gur td.), Co. Limerick<br />

Early Medieval Unenclosed Settlement<br />

Grid Ref: R64654149 (164653/141497)<br />

SMR No: LI032-014012<br />

Excavation Licence: N/A<br />

Excavation Duration/year: 1936-1940?<br />

Site Director: S.P. Ó Ríordáin (University College Cork)<br />

<strong>The</strong> ‘Spectacles’, excavated as part <strong>of</strong> a University College Cork research dig, is an<br />

unenclosed early medieval settlement containing one rectangular and two circular houses as<br />

well as an animal shelter and other structures within an arrangement <strong>of</strong> small and large early<br />

medieval field systems (Fig. 203). <strong>The</strong> site was situated on a shelf <strong>of</strong> land (91m by 32m)<br />

which slopes gradually to the lake <strong>of</strong> Knockadoon to the west and is bounded on the east by<br />

a hill-side rock face.<br />

House A was situated in the most northerly <strong>of</strong> the ancient fields and was approximately<br />

circular in plan with an internal diameter <strong>of</strong> 4.5m. <strong>The</strong> walls were over 0.9m thick and were<br />

faced with large upright stone slabs containing an earthen and stone rubble core. <strong>The</strong><br />

western entrance was marked by two in-turned stones and was defined by two large<br />

postholes which evidently formed part <strong>of</strong> a wide eave or entrance porch. Twelve internal<br />

postholes- mostly close to the walls- as well as a further six- close to the outside <strong>of</strong> the wallsmay<br />

have supported a ro<strong>of</strong>. Two well-defined hearths were also excavated within in the<br />

eastern and northern sides <strong>of</strong> the interior.<br />

<strong>The</strong> House A entrance was paved with large flat stones which continued outside to the west,<br />

forming a paved approach edged by upright stones, (1.5m wide). To the west, the paving<br />

ended at and butted against the upright stones <strong>of</strong> the terminal <strong>of</strong> a field wall which formed<br />

one <strong>of</strong> the boundaries <strong>of</strong> the field containing House A. Excavation <strong>of</strong> this pre-existing field<br />

wall showed that its wall was originally 0.9m wide with an entrance directly south <strong>of</strong> the<br />

House A door.<br />

House B was built against the facing <strong>of</strong> this pre-existing field wall and partially used this<br />

structure as one side <strong>of</strong> a circular building. A double-line <strong>of</strong> postholes extended out from the<br />

stone-built portion <strong>of</strong> the wall suggesting that the remainder <strong>of</strong> the structure was built using<br />

wood or turves. A hearth defined by stones and burnt material was found in the southern<br />

interior <strong>of</strong> the house.<br />

Structure C was situated to the west <strong>of</strong> House B and was interpreted as an animal shelter. It<br />

was about 4.25m in length and 0.9m in width internally and used the surrounding rock<br />

outcrops as part <strong>of</strong> the walls <strong>of</strong> this structure. A number <strong>of</strong> postholes associated with an area<br />

<strong>of</strong> cobbling were excavated between House B and C though none formed any coherent<br />

structural pattern.<br />

House D was situated in the next ancient field south <strong>of</strong> that containing Houses B and C. <strong>The</strong><br />

house was rectangular in plan measuring 4.25m by 3.65m with its walls faced with stones<br />

and containing a clay rubble fill. A paved area and a hearth were uncovered in the interior.<br />

Several postholes and cobbled areas suggest possible outhouses between House D and the<br />

cliff edge.<br />

<strong>The</strong> fields containing the houses were enclosed by parallel fences. Four were built <strong>of</strong> a double<br />

stone facing with a stone rubble core while the fifth and most southerly was an earthen bank.<br />

<strong>The</strong>se enclosed fields were very small (average area 1 / 7 <strong>of</strong> an acre) and may have contained<br />

the tillage patches belonging to the houses. Larger enclosed spaces further away from the<br />

houses on the upper hill-side were interpreted as field systems for cattle.<br />

418

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!