House - early medieval

The National Monuments Service's description

Adjacent to the wall of the round house (OF005-027007-) on the N but slightly later in date there was an occupation area with a large central hearth uncovered in cutting 5. This occupation surface consisted of a sub-circular platfrom of yellow sand approx. 5m in diameter. The central feature was a rectangular gravelled surface (dims. 3.2m x 1.7m) oultined by small stones with a hearth (dims. 0.8m x 0.7m) in the centre. This area may have been enclosed and roofed although there is no definitive evidence for walling or roofing posts. However a number of large stones set around the perimeter of the sandy floor may have functioned as pad-stones for timber posts, while a row of burnt planks revealed along the NE side of the platform may represent the remains of an upright plank wall. This hearth may have had an association with iron working or some other industrial activity. (King, H. 1992, 'Preliminary report on the 1992 excavations in the New Graveyard at Clonmacnoise, Co. Offaly')

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien.

Date of upload: 23 May 2011