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

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Mayo<br />

Inishkea North, Co. Mayo<br />

Early Medieval Ecclesiastical Settlement.<br />

Grid Ref: F57002253 (057009/322530)<br />

SMR No: MA023-014001-6<br />

Excavation Licence: N/A<br />

Excavation Duration/Year: June 1938.<br />

Site Director: F. Henry (University College Dublin).<br />

<strong>The</strong> site consists <strong>of</strong> a small ecclesiastical community based around a stone-built church to St.<br />

Columkille, to the south-east <strong>of</strong> the island (Fig. 234). Three mounds (known locally as<br />

‘baileys’) were located in this area, and these were the subject <strong>of</strong> investigation over a number<br />

<strong>of</strong> seasons.<br />

St. Columkille’s church is located on the highest point <strong>of</strong> the island. This is a rectangular drystone-walled<br />

structure, with an interior space 4.8m by 3.6m in area. <strong>The</strong> lack <strong>of</strong> corbelling<br />

suggests that the structure must have had a timber ro<strong>of</strong>. A number <strong>of</strong> potential structures,<br />

possibly associated with the church, are located in a neighbouring field. A surface search <strong>of</strong> a<br />

raised circular platform uncovered a number <strong>of</strong> cross-inscribed stone slabs, presumably<br />

relating to burials <strong>of</strong> the monastic community.<br />

Aside from these ecclesiastical features, three corbelled, stone-built houses were excavated<br />

(Fig. 235). <strong>The</strong> foundations for these appear to have been dug into existing sand dunes. A<br />

skeleton - aligned east-west - was found buried beneath House C, and a similarly orientated<br />

skeleton was found just outside it. Finds included a dagger and several other pieces <strong>of</strong> iron; a<br />

bone bead; a bone comb; a bone spindle-whorl; and fragments <strong>of</strong> the scapula <strong>of</strong> an adult<br />

whale which appears to have been used as a chopping block. Finds from House B were later<br />

and included three silver pennies <strong>of</strong> Henry II/Richard I (i.e. late-twelfth century).<br />

Unlike Houses B and C, which have a beehive pr<strong>of</strong>ile, House A was rectangular in shape. It<br />

was also more flimsily built that the other two. Finds included an iron knife; a whale-bone<br />

disc; three bone pins; and a broken quernstone.<br />

A possible forge was identified, but not fully excavated. Large numbers <strong>of</strong> iron clinker was<br />

recovered from this area. Later excavations uncovered mounds <strong>of</strong> broken Nucella (Purpura)<br />

lapillus (dog-whelk) shells, both in rubbish heaps, and also within a structure which must<br />

have been used as a dye-house.<br />

494

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