EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Cork
Killanully, Co. Cork
Early Medieval Settlement Enclosure
Grid Ref: W69246362 (169240/063628)
SMR No: CO086-047
Excavation Licence: 92E0104
Excavation Duration/year: July - August 1992
Site Director: C. Mount (for Archaeological Development Services).
A univallate early medieval enclosure and souterrain, and a post-medieval rectangular
enclosure were excavated in Killanully townland in advance of a limestone quarry extension.
The site was located on the crest of an east-west ridge near its north-western end at 41m OD
and overlooking the valley of the Owenboy River. The excavation of the whole site revealed
that the enclosure and souterrain were primarily occupied between the eighth/tenth centuries
A.D and were associated with iron smelting and cereal-cultivation.
The early medieval enclosure was oval in plan (25m by 36m), and was enclosed by a low
bank, 1.5m thick and 0.35m high (Fig. 72). The excavated ditch was V-shaped and rock-cut
and measured 1.95m wide and 1.05m deep. Two fills were identified within the ditch and
contained a quantity of animal bone. The eastern entrance was a simple uncut causeway
3.5m wide between the two ditch terminals and had no indication of any postholes which
may have supported a gate. A small quantity of animal bone, a sherd of post-medieval
pottery, and a fragment of an iron key shaft were excavated inside the southern ditch
terminal.
Evidence for a truncated layer containing occasional flecks of charcoal and fragments of burnt
bone were identified beneath the south-west portion of the bank indicated some form of
occupation before the enclosure was built. Animal bone and a tuyère fragment within the
enclosing bank indicated the presence of a furnace on the site before or during the
construction of the enclosing bank.
Intensive modern cultivation and the erosion of soil down the hill slope had destroyed any
evidence for houses or hearths inside the enclosure. A stone-lined souterrain was located in
the south-western area of the site and consisted of a single curving passage 11.3m long, 0.4-
0.9m wide and at most 1.85m below the present ground surface. The structure was unroofed
except for one stone lintel and was built using alternating orthostats of upright stone slabs
along its southern section and dry-stone walling for the most part in the northern section. A
quantity of charcoal in the interstices of the stones along the northern section produced a
radiocarbon date from the tenth to the thirteenth century (see below).
The souterrain contained five fills. The original floor of the souterrain was heavily trampled
and contained animal bone, molluscs, charcoal, a piece of cinder from a furnace and a bone
barrel-bead. An occupation deposit that infiltrated the souterrain through the entrance and
was contemporary with the use of the souterrain was discovered overlying the original floor.
A quantity of animal bone, single hazelnut shell, charred barley, fat-hen, molluscs and
charcoal as well as a whetstone, iron band, iron fragment and 25g of metal ore were
recovered from this context. A sample of charcoal from this deposit returned a radiocarbon
date in the late-eighth to late-tenth centuries (see below). This occupation deposit lay
beneath the primary souterrain backfill or demolition deposit of the souterrain which
contained the remains of the dry stone walling and lintel stones as well as animal bone, a
stone disc, iron slag and a piece of iron ore.
A corn-drying kiln consisting of a deep circular pit (1.25m by 1.15m, and 0.8m deep) with a
flue (0.6m long) was excavated in the western side of the enclosure. The fills of the furnace
pit contained a large quantity of iron slag, animal bone, charcoal, two iron nails, charred
barley and fat-hen. Charred cereals and weeds were uncovered at the heavily burnt base of
the kiln. An irregular slot (1m long by 0.5m wide and 1m-1.15m deep) was excavated 1.5m
east of the corn-drying kiln and contained fragments of burnt cattle bone, charcoal, three
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