Midden

The National Monuments Service's description

This midden was uncovered during the course of research excavations in the SE end of the middle enclosure at Dún Aonghasa (GA110-039----). It was located between a habitation site (GA110-039030-) to its N and the cliff edge to its S. The excavated area (6m by 4m) marked the limits of erosion of the midden; it originally would have been larger. It was best preserved where it abutted the inner face of the primary phase of the enclosure wall and was up to 0.45m deep where it was sealed by the foundations of the later phase of the wall. The midden appears to have been used exclusively for dumping. Most of the refuse consisted of limpet shells but a small amount of animal bone was also present. Some eroded cooking ware and a plain unperforated bone pin were also found. A sample of animal bone yielded a radiocarbon date of 1050-890 cal. BC. A thin talus of refuse under the wall foundations of Structure 3.1 (GA110-039032-) indicated that the midden pre-dated it and the absence of any midden material from the hollow suggested that the midden accumulated during the primary occupation of this area (Cotter 2012, vol. 1, 230-231).

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.