Structure

The National Monuments Service's description

This possible structure, identified as Structure 4, was one of three located in the very exposed central section of Cutting 1; see also Structure 3 (GA110-039017-) and Structure 6 (GA110-039019-). This example was located to the S of Structure 3 and consisted of a spread of paving delimited along the S, W and N by an ill-defined arc of rubble walling that enclosed an area of 4-5m. The walling was best defined along the N where it was made up of stones forming a low bank of rubble. A few overlapping stones suggested that a coursed foundation wall may have collapsed or had been levelled. Elsewhere the enclosing element was very poorly defined and consisted of spreads of rubble frequently mixed with occupation material. At SW this rubble extended over the internal paving, suggesting that the wall had collapsed inwards. The internal paving (4.7m E-W; 4.4m N-S) was made up of flagstones. In places two layers of slabs were evident - these were probably laid to level up the floor; rubble was occasionally used for the same purpose. In the N sector it was evident that some of the original flags had been subsequently renewed at a later date. A shallow layer of compacted charcoal-flecked clay separated the earlier paving from the later layer and a fragment of an unclassifiable clay mound was found in this layer. The only other find was another fragment of a clay mould that was found in the associated rubble walling (Cotter 2012, vol. 1, 337, 357; vol. 2, 246). This structure, together with Structure 3 and Structure 6, is most likely prehistoric in date but not necessarily of Late Bronze Age date (ibid., vol. 2, 246, 248).

Compiled by: Olive Alcock

Date of upload: 23 June 2020

References

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