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

Meath
Raystown included evidence of violent deaths for two males and the burial of a male in a
former cereal-drying kiln. The latter had been covered with stones and was laid in a northsouth
position with his legs flexed.
Thirty one burials were found to the south of, or cutting the inner enclosure. They ranged in
date from the sixth to the tenth centuries. Twenty burials were juvenile and some later
examples had a blue glass bead at their necks.
Finds
Ecofacts
A substantial assemblage of animal bone was recovered totalling nine thousand countable
specimens. Cattle dominated the assemblage followed by sheep and pig but sheep became
the dominant species during Phase III. A relatively high number of horse bones – mainly from
ponies – suggest they were utilised for haulage while horses may have pulled ploughs. Wild
bird, cat and dog bone was also present.
Unsurprisingly – given the scale of cereal processing – a large number of cereal grains were
present from many contexts.
Artefacts
A large quantity of artefacts was retrieved from Raystown. The majority were utilitarian and
functional items indicative of dwelling, manufacture, agricultural and industrial activities.
Iron tools included a range of knives, awls and a hollow punch used for manufacturing and
the repair of objects. Tool-marks on the timbers indicate that axes, adzes, gouges and chisels
were used.
Weaving equipment comprised a slotted and pointed iron object, a tensioner, bone needles, a
copper-alloy needle, bone pin beaters, a bone distaff and a lathe-turned spindle whorl.
Evidence for the manufacture of bone buttons or discs was found in the form of buttoners’
bones. Small numbers of antler tines also suggest manufacturing. Bone objects included
toggles, two combs and two knife-handles.
Stone items included a rotary quern fragment, a hone stone and a rotary grinding stone.
The presence of a horse-snaffle-bit and horse-bit – along with the animal bone –
demonstrates the utilisation of horses and ponies.
Personal dress items were few for a site of this scale and included bone pins, three copperalloy
ringed pins and two shafts, two stick-pins and glass beads which were found with some
burials.
A fragment of E ware and a glass vessel indicates evidence for trade and exchange.
To conclude, the sequence of activity at Raystown demonstrates that it began as a focus for
burial activity during the early fifth century and evolved to incorporate a large settlement and
mixed farmstead for a further 600 years until its demise during the twelfth century. The scale
of arable agriculture is attested to by the presence of watermills, cereal-drying kilns and field
systems. Livestock equally played a significant role as shown by over 700kg of animal bone
that was retrieved during excavation.
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