EMAP_2012_Report_6_1.pdf (7.3 MB) - The Heritage Council

site (Schuster and Jones 2012, 46-47). Silver ingots were also found at Carraig Aille 1, (Ó
Ríordáin 1949a, 89-91), Feiltrim Hill (Hartnett & Eogan 1964) and 200m from the settlement
at Cherrywood which had a range of Hiberno-Norse objects (O’ Neill 2012, 17).
3.2.7: Lead
Lead was important for alloying with other metals. Little is known about the sourcing of this
metal in the early medieval period. Lead models for objects were found at the crannogs of
Lagore and Moylarg (Comber 1997, 107). Small lead bars have been found on a number of
sites including at Glebe, Ratoath and Woodstown 6 (Seaver 2011, 150; Wallace 2010, 304,
O’Brien & Russell 2005, 119-22). Tin was also vital as the principal alloy for use with copper
in the production of Bronze. The mechanics of the sourcing of tin are unknown and it is often
thought that the majority of it was imported through contacts with south-western Britain.
Qualitative chemical analysis of non-ferrous artefacts have a considerable role to play in
determining the origins of raw materials, the types of alloys and techniques used in the
production of metals. A study of metalwork in the ‘Celtic West’ showed that bronze continued
to be used in Ireland up to the tenth century when Hiberno-Norse metalworkers introduced
the production of brass as a significant copper alloy (Craddock et al. 2001, 117-124).
3.3: Metal-working tools
A wide range of tools were utilised in the later stages of the fabrication of metal objects. An
iron anvil with a very small working space and a spike projecting from its base is known from
Garryduff (O'Kelly 1963, 56-7) and may have been used in the working of highly ornate
items. Various other tools such as iron awls; punches; chisels; files; stone and iron-hammerheads;
bronze tweezers and styli; and whetstones used for sharpening metal objects are
known from various sites and may have been used in these final stages of metal-working
(Comber 2008, 144). An iron stake used in the beating of sheet metal was recovered from a
metal-working area (1) at Moynagh Lough (Bradley 1993, 76) and three tiny needles of
bronze were interpreted as possible compass points at Kilpatrick (Swan 1995).
3.4: The contexts of non-ferrous metal-working
Evidence for fine metal-working is clearly present on a significant number of different types of
early medieval sites although the greatest evidence is generally confined to ecclesiastical and
high status secular sites. Bronze and copper-alloy working has been identified at a range of
ecclesiastical site, from small western monasteries (e.g. Reask and Illaunloughan), to
established important centres such as Armagh, Downpatrick, Clonmacnoise, Nendrum and
Movilla. Fine metal-working can be regarded as a consistent feature of the large monasteries
(Ryan 1988). Some enclosure sites with settlement and burials, such as Dooey (Ó Ríordáin &
Rynne 1961, 61-62) and Dunmisk (Ivens 1989, 28-36) also seem to have been important in
fine metal-working with evidence for the making of brooches and other objects. This
evidence can be paralleled with material from high status settlement enclosures and crannogs
such as Garranes (Ó Ríordáin 1942), Lagore (Hencken 1950, 234-41) and Moynagh crannog
(Bradley 1993, 77-80). At least eight other crannogs have revealed significant number of
crucibles, clay moulds and ingot moulds (Appendix 1.2).
Excavations within enclosed settlements indicate that metal-working was usually undertaken
within the enclosure but away from habitation areas or ecclesiastical buildings, reflecting
concerns about the toxic and flammable character of the activity while conscious of exploiting
the shelter and security afforded by the enclosing elements (Comber 2008, 146). The location
of craftworking within enclosed settlements generally depends on the size of the site (Comber
2008, 146) but both activities can be found together in the same areas at smaller sites such
as Reask (Fanning 1981, 89), as well as some larger sites such as Nendrum (McErlean 2007a,
378), Kilpatrick (Swan 1994/95, 8-11) and Woodstown (O’Brien & Russell 2005, 119).
However, the early documentary sources indicate a clear distinction between blacksmiths and
craftsmen involved in working bronze and other precious metals (Scott 1991, 184). This is
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