EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Cork
Fig. 65: Plan of Scandinavian and medieval Cork (after Bradley & Halpin 1993, 18).
There have been a significant number of excavations in the area of Scandinavian Cork (Fig.
66) since the 1970’s described particularly within a number of edited publications (e.g. Cleary
& Hurley 2003; Cleary, Hurley & Shee Twohig 1997) and in the annual excavation bulletin
reports.
DEFENCES AND LAND RECLAMATION REVETMENTS
Historical Evidence
There is no historical or archaeological evidence for the exact location of the original ninth
century Scandinavian Dún or caisteol mentioned in the annals though the probable location is
on the South Island. Hurley (2003b, 171-72) have suggested that parallels for the low-lying
marshy island siting of the Cork settlement should be sought with a number of possible
longphort sites at Athlunkard, Co. Clare, Dunrally, Co. Laois and Anagassan, Co. Louth. There
are scant other descriptions of a Scandinavian settlement at Cork between the later ninth and
early twelfth century when (Jefferies 1985, 15-17).
The late twelfth century charters linguistically distinguish between the South Island (civitas)
and the settlement on the South Bank (Vill) which could imply that these two areas were
visibly distinct from each other at the cusp of the Anglo-Norman invasion, perhaps by the
existence of enclosing defences around the former (Bradley & Halpin 1993, 20). The
properties at the South Bank are described as being bounded by the ‘curtilage of the
burgesses’ which would indicate an unenclosed settlement (Jefferies 1985).
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