Habitation site

The National Monuments Service's description

Identified as F235 - this bedrock hollow was the middle example in a series of three (see also GA110-039002- and GA110-039004-) that were exposed along the W side of Cutting 1 in the inner enclosure of Dún Aonghasa (GA110-039----). The exposed area (12m N-S; Wth 0.8-3m; D 0.25m) was located immediately to the S of F1005 (GA110-039002-) and it is possible that both of these features merged under the enclosure wall. The N part of the hollow was rough and irregular but the S end had a more trimmed appearance. The latter end was filled with occupation material. A large quantity of animal bone and shell suggested that part of it was used as a dump from the outset. However, because of later activity, including internment (see GA110-039015-) and further dumping, this could not be established with certainty. Evidence for the earliest human activity on the plateau was revealed within this hollow. Two radiocarbon dates from two samples of animal bone from the occupational material in the S half produced dates of c. 1500-1390 cal. BC and c. 1460-1120 cal. BC, indicating activity during the Middle Bronze Age, prior to the construction of the fort. No definite floor surfaces were identified and it was unclear whether the area had been used for habitation during this phase or whether it had some other function related seasonal activities, for example, fishing from the cliff or to some ritual function. The artefact assemblage indicated a wider timeframe with ongoing activity into the Late Bronze Age and possibly later. Finds included pottery, an amber bead, a bronze chisel, copper slag, clay mould fragments, pumice, bone points, needles, pins and and bone handles, scraps of iron, fragments of pottery and a bronze tweezers (Cotter ibid., vol. 1, 70-71; vol. 2, 225).

Compiled by: Olive Alcock

Date of upload: 22 June 2020

References

Cotter, C. 2012 The western stone forts project. Excavations at Dún Aonghasa and Dún Eoghanachta. 2 vols. Dublin. Wordwell Ltd.