House - medieval

The National Monuments Service's description

In 2002, archaeological excavation (Licence no. 02E0955: www.excavations.ie) revealed medieval and early post-medieval deposits behind the buildings fronting the W side of the N end of North Main St. These deposits suggest the presence of a late medieval building (c. AD 1300), where partial evidence of a house floor and hearth were uncovered. The superstructure of the building was presumably fashioned from timber, as no masonry remains were identified on the old ground surface (1.6m below present ground level). The occupation level was followed by evidence of cultivation indicated by the presence of garden soils dating from the medieval to the early post-medieval period. This deposit sequence was followed by later, cobbled occupation surfaces, indicating the presence of a yard to the rear of the premises that fronted onto Main Street. A 19th-century deposit of cattle horn-cores suggests butchering activity in the early modern period. Pottery finds included Ham Green B and locally manufactured medieval jugs, and indicated occupation from the 13th to the 18th century.

Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy

Date of upload: 10 June 2011