Habitation site

The National Monuments Service's description

During the course of research excavations in the SE area (Cutting 3) of the middle enclosure of Dún Aonghasa (GA110-039----) a largely man-made hollow (L 6m; Wth 5-7m), identified as F325, was uncovered. It was created by quarrying back into the terraced slope at the SE end of the enclosure. Vertical rock faces defined its S and W sides. The return of the SE side formed a footing for the enclosure wall for a distance of 0.9m at which point it turned E and disappeared in under the wall. The enclosure wall would have afforded the hollow protection from the easterly winds and it is likely that there was formerly a wall along the cliff edge to protect it from the south-westerly winds; however, no trace of the latter wall survives. Occupational deposits on the floor of the hollow, consisting of dispersed animal bone and charcoal flecks, continued in under the wall-face, indicating that it was hollowed out prior to the construction of the later phase of the enclosing wall (Cotter 2012, vol. 1, 228-230).

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.