Enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

The E annexe represents Phase 2 as it appears to be the earliest feature attached to the rath (ME025-096----). It was formed by ditches attaching to the rath fosse at N (Wth 1.94-2.32m; D 0.47-0.55m; L c. 30m) and S that extended E to the wetland area where there was probably a spring. The S ditch runs E (L c. 20m; Wth 1.1-1.7m; D 0.54-0.6m) and then N (L c. 14m; Wth 0.8m; D 0.28-0.38m) to the wetland area, and together the N and S ditches create an irregular area (dims c. 35m N-S; c. 7-30m E-W). An animal skull and the tip of an iron knife were found at the base of the fill of the S ditch at the junction with the rath fosse, and a complete cow skull with the horn sheaths removed was in a discrete sand layer in the basal fill of the N ditch. The E annexe was subdivided into smaller areas by gullies and ditches, some of the plots being devoted to metal-working or cereal-drying kilns. (McGlade 2017, vol. 1, 16-18)

In a third phase a new route for the S arm is created enclosing a larger open area (dims 30m plus E-W), and this ditch ran S of the rath fosse to become the enclosing ditch of the W annexe also when it connects with the original N boundary of the E annexe. A furnace pit (ME025-096008-) was cut into the upper fill of the re-cut E annexe ditch SE of the rath (ibid. 16-22). A fragment of a crucible and two possible anvil stones were recovered in the vicinity. In Phase 4 a new S ditch is provided c. 5m S of the re-routed Phase 3 ditch but while its W end connects with the ditch of the W annexe a return for its E end is not present and it may run into a field system. During Phase 4 the rath became absorbed with the E and W annexes into a large subrectangular enclosure (ME025-096003-) where the principal activity might be represented by the eleven cereal-drying kilns (ME025-096007-) throughout the excavated area. (McGlade 2017, vol. 1, 18-22; 80-1)

Two kilns, a hearth, six pits, two post-holes and ten linear features are within the E annexe. One kiln was cut by the rath fosse at NE and had its flue within the rath. A cow’s skull had been placed at this end of the flue. Of the other kiln only the W firing chamber survived, the rest being destroyed by a drain associated with the modern avenue. Three of the internal linear features are E-W gullies and the others could also serve this purpose. Three intercutting N-S ditches largely respect the N boundary of the E annexe. (McGlade 2017, vol. 1, 33-40)

See the attached images from McGlade (2017, figs P 21, 17) _01 location and late phse: _02 early phase;

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 19 April, 2023

McGlade, S. 2017 Preliminary Excavation Report, Site D, Alexander Reid, Navan. Licence: 16E0449. Archaeology Plan 2 vols