EMAP_2012_Report_6_1.pdf (7.3 MB) - The Heritage Council

working furnace at Rathgurreen and was identified as having a similar function (Comber
2008, 118). Other possible stone anvils have been recorded at seven other sites in the EMAP
2012 gazetteer as well as in a recent excavation at Dunlo (Young 2010). The most signficant
example from Lowpark had a bowl shaped depression on one side and a small circular
depression which in turn contained a square socket on the other which is likely to be for an
iron anvil (Higgins 2010, 3-4). It is possible that large flat stones were generally utilised as
anvils in this period and many of these have probably been overlooked during excavations
(Comber 2008, 118). Possible iron equivalents have also been noted at Cloghermore cave
(Connolly & Coyne 2005, 217); the crannógs at Ballinderry II (Hencken 1942), Randalstown
(Wood-Martin 1886, 168); Garryduff I (O'Kelly 1963, 56–7), and the ecclesiastical site at
Kiltera (Macalister 1935, 5). The most recently found iron anvil was located in the chamber of
a souterrain at Kilree where deposits were dated to A.D. 692-772 (Coughlan 2010, 17) The
evidence for a cemented smithing pan that formed on the floor surrounding the hearth and
anvil from the trampling of iron residues into the ground by the smith and his assistants can
also indicate the presence of an iron smithing workshop (Carlin 2008, 110). Such evidence
was discovered at Lagore (Hencken 1950, 233) and Garranes where a dense black
metallurgical layer was found associated with a scatter of post-holes and a stone setting (Ó
Ríordáin 1942, 86–7).
2.5: Contexts of iron-working
Aside from mining and charcoal-production, the four separate processes involved in ironworking
were ore processing (roasting), smelting, bloomsmithing and forging. The dynamics
and settlement context of these processes are still poorly understood. It has been suggested
that primary iron production took place in peripheral locations close to woodland and fuel and
timber sources (Carlin 2008, 108). There are now frequent isolated sites where metallurgical
residues suggest smelting and bloomsmithing such as those in County Meath on the M4 (see
smelting above for examples). Other linear schemes have revealed many more such sites
Aghamore (Byrne 2007, 333-4), Dollas Lower (Dowling and Taylor 2007, 273-4), Kiltenan
south (Dennehy 2007, 291) and Ennisnag (Jennings, 2008). Some of these are located close
to woodland and bog with several including charcoal making pits. More recently examples
have been excavated at Dunlo, County Galway and Ballinglanna north and Cloonafinneela
both in County Kerry (Young 2010, 2011a, 2012, 2). These may represent specialised
bloomsmithing and/or smelting sites. The apparent absence of secondary smithing i.e the
forging/blacksmithing of objects was contrasted with evidence from settlements like Clonfad
which was primarily engaged in bloomsmithing and artefact production.
It could be suggested that these ‘isolated’ industrial features may represent evidence for
‘itinerant’ ironworkers (Comber 2008, 124). However, Carlin (2008, 107) has suggested
instead that they were more the product of local farmer-ironsmiths, exploiting their
surrounding natural resources, probably on a seasonal basis. Although they are mentioned in
the story Cath Maige Tuired itinerant smiths appear to be a rarity in many small scale
societies (Hall 2011, 313). It could also be the case that these represented places where
specialised ironworkers produced bloom for use in larger workshops at settlement sites.
The crannog at Bofeenaun could be regarded as an ‘isolated’ specialised iron-working site
(O'Sullivan 1998, 122) as it produced evidence primarily for the processing and smelting of
iron ore. Two iron-smelting furnaces, furnace lining fragments and a large volume of slag
were recovered and the only finds consisted of two crushing stones or stone mortars (for the
ore), a saddle quern, a hammer stone, an iron spade and two gouge-type tools (Lawless
1992, 14-21).There was no structural or occupational evidence, except for a revetment
palisade and an area of stone paving (ibid.). Bofeenaun was located in an apparently
marginal landscape and it has been suggested that ‘crannogs like Bofeenaun should be
interpreted as the island workshops of blacksmiths, seen as semi-mythical personages in
early medieval mythology on the edge of society’ (O'Sullivan and Van de Noort 2007, 74)
which were visited periodically by local farmers to meet their subsistence needs.
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