Structure

The National Monuments Service's description

This structure, identified as Structure 9.1, was uncovered during the course of excavations centered on the north entrance of the middle enclosure of Dún Aonghasa (GA110-039----). It was located to the SW of the entrance passageway and was defined by an irregular post-hole trench (enclosing an area 4.2m SW-NE; 3.6m N-S) and a number of other possibly related post-holes and a pit (GA110-039035-). The trench (L 8m; Wth 0.18-0.28m; D 0.2-0.24m), which curved from SW through N to SE, suggested that this most likely was originally an oval or circular post-built building. No evidence of the doorway was found but a paved pathway extending off it at NW suggested one possibility of where it was located. Spreads of periwinkle shells found along the outer side of the N sector of the trench and also at the base of a number of the post-holes were deliberately placed there. They may have been a dedicatory deposit or else were possibly to do with some other domestic ritual. The interior of the structure sloped markedly from W to E and contained no surviving stratigraphy. Two shallow gullies were the only internal features evident. Charcoal from one of the post-holes in the trench yielded a radiocarbon date of 400-200 cal. BC suggesting Iron Age activity. The structure may have been a house but its location immediately inside the entrance also suggests that it could have been a non-domestic structure linked to rituals associated with entering and leaving the fort (Cotter 2012, vol. 1, 247-57; vol. 2, 274-5).

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.