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

Offaly
settlement. Excavations uncovered an early occupation deposit containing hearths, stakeholes,
iron objects, slag, worked antler and animal bone in this area pre-dating seventh
century burials (King 2009, 345). By the late seventh and early eighth century, this area had
been designated a burial ground and continued in this role until it was closed in the 1950s
(King 2009, 345). Backfilled pits were uncovered beneath the ‘South Cross’ and ‘Cross of the
Scriptures’ and may have supported wooden crosses before their stone equivalents were
erected in their place in the ninth/tenth century. Finds consisted primarily of a large number
of early Christian, medieval and post-medieval grave-slabs, burials and a bronze ringed pin
(King 1994:196).
The excavations to the west (The Visitor Centre in the ‘Steeple Gardens’), northwest (sloping
ground from the visitor centre to the River Shannon) and particularly to the northeast (‘New
Graveyard’) of the ecclesiastical core demonstrate that there was a major expansion of
settlement in the seventh and eighth centuries with a further reorganisation and new features
suggestive of ‘urbanisation’ appearing in the 9 th century (King 2009, 336). Three main phases
of occupation were identified in these three areas but were especially evident to the
northeast of the ecclesiastical core. The designation of the area of the ecclesiastical core as a
burial-ground in the later seventh century and eighth century appears to have coincided with
a major expansion to the east at the New Graveyard in the form of stakeholes, spreads of
burnt soil and other features. Above these was the main ninth and tenth century occupation
phase which was characterized by a number of houses and other structures. The uppermost
late eleventh and twelfth century layer was disturbed by post-medieval agriculture and
consisted of flagged and cobbled area, pits, well-shafts and post-holes (King 2009, 335-36).
The rescue excavations in the garden of the round tower (Steeple Gardens) were undertaken
in 1989 and 1990 in advance of the construction of a visitor centre (Manning 1989:078,
1990:096). The earliest phase was represented by stakeholes, furnace waste and industrial
fragments. A habitation surface, with stakeholes and an occupation surface, was situated
above this layer. A path was also discovered composed of gravel. Another habitation layer
with stakeholes was confined to the eastern half of the area. Preliminary analysis suggests
that these stakeholes may represent the remains of circular huts. Part of a two-sided comb
and a bone trial piece with interlace and fretwork patterns were found in a dark humic layer;
and a large quantity of animal bone was also recovered.
The ‘New Graveyard’ at Clonmacnoise had been opened in the mid-twentieth century, without
prior archaeological investigation. An ogham stone was discovered during grave-digging in
1990, which persuaded the Office of Public Works to authorise a limited excavation.
Excavation carried on in this area for the next eight years by Heather King and revealed much
about the domestic and industrial aspects to the monastery (See King 2009). The excavations
demonstrated that house types between the eighth to twelfth centuries evolved from postand-wattle
to larger circular houses built on stone-revetted platforms above the River
Shannon floodplain which were in turn replaced by rectangular equivalents. There was
evidence for the construction, maintenance and remetalling of streets and pathways
throughout this period and continuity of house plots were also demonstrated where a
rectangular house was built above the foundations of a circular structure (King 2009, 345).
The earliest evidence of occupation at the ‘New Graveyard’ was a series of postholes in the
natural sandy soil of the esker ridge, interpreted as the remains of a wicker-walled house.
Above this, approximately one-third of a round house was discovered in the form of a wall, a
hearth and a clay floor. Most of the structures on the site appear to be contemporary with,
and adjacent to, a metalled roadway which ran from the Eiscir Riada (the gravel ridge located
behind the monastery), to the monastic enclosure. Radiocarbon dates from the post-road
phase gave a twelfth/thirteenth century date (see below), with other radiocarbon dates
confirming that the settlement developed in the seventh century and carried on for
subsequent centuries (see below). A round house (6m in diameter) was discovered beneath a
rectangular building. This structure (10.5m x 3.5m) had two identifiable phases of
occupation, and had a probable internal division, creating a two-celled building.
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