Habitation site

The National Monuments Service's description

In lowlying coastal pasture bordering a cobble beach, in the vicinity of Staad Abbey church (SL005-022001-). Survey and excavation (00E0235) in 2000 and 2001 revealed evidence of an early phase of settlement activity, pre-dating the late medieval church (SL005-022001-) and the early medieval souterrain (SL005-022002-). A horizon of bowl-shaped pits was recorded, dug into deep deposits of wind-blown sand, in the lowest stratigraphic levels in the eroding land-edge cliff face (McCormick et al. 2000, 15-17), and, in a trench excavated in the space between the church and the sea cliff, a wall built of beach cobbles underlay a layer of wind-blown sand, which in turn underlay the foundations of the church (Dunne, McCormick, and O’Sullivan 2001, 1). These features have not been precisely dated, but their position in the stratigraphy of the site suggested that some may be prehistoric in date.

Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 4 July 2017

References

Dunne, C.M., McCormick, F., and O'Sullivan, J. 2001 Summary report on excavations in September 2001 with catalogues of artefacts, samples, photographs and field drawings. Licence No. 00E235 (continued). Unpublished report submitted to National Monument Service.

McCormick, F., O'Sullivan, J., Pearson, P. and Roulston, W. 2000 Staad Abbey, County Sligo. An interim report on geophysical surveys, a standing building survey and excavations at the cliff-face in April/May 2000. Unpublished report submitted to National Monument Service.