EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Dublin
Glebe (Site 43), Co. Dublin
Early Medieval Settlement Enclosure
Grid reference: O22892362 (322892/223620)
SMR: N/A
Excavation Licence No: 00E0758
Excavation duration: August 2000 – May 2002
Site director: M. Seaver (Valerie J. Keeley Ltd.)
Excavations at Glebe – in advance of the construction of a road interchange – revealed a circular
early medieval enclosed settlement and associated field system dating between the late seventh and
late ninth centuries AD. Slightly earlier cereal processing was also evident in the form of four cerealdrying
kilns. The enclosure was situated on a steep scarp, on the townland boundary between Glebe
and Laughanstown, and on rich agricultural land.
Four ‘figure-of-eight’ cereal-drying kilns were situated to the west of the enclosed settlement in the
townland of Laughanstown. Two returned radiocarbon dates between the mid sixth and mid seventh
centuries, which probably places this agricultural activity before the construction of the settlement
enclosure (see below for radiocarbon dates).
The enclosure measured 46m in internal diameter and had an entrance at the south-east (Fig. 121).
Large slabs and boulders within the ditch on either side of the entrance suggest that the bank on
either side was revetted with stone. The enclosing ditch contained large quantities of animal bone
and evidence for butchery was recorded on the three main domesticates of cattle, sheep and pig.
Middens of seashell show that the inhabitants utilised the nearby sea shore which was approximately
3km away to the east. A portion of the bank survived on the western side while there was evidence
for a post-built fence or palisade on the northern side of the enclosure. The latter was possibly
constructed after erosion of the bank.
The interior was heavily ploughed but a cluster of postholes, a hearth and a pit, measuring 8m by
5m, were identified off-centre. They may possibly denote the area of a former dwelling.
A reasonable number of artefacts were recovered from the site including ringed pin fragments, bone
pins (including an unusual zoomorphic example with the head stylised as a horse’s head), a bone
scoop with dot and spiral decoration, blue glass beads, a stone spindle whorl, a broken rotary quern
and iron slag. Possible ecclesiastical connections, with the nearby monastic site at Tully, were
indicated by the presence of inscribed worked pieces of wood. One piece featured a raised cross
while another contained an inscription of the word ‘Deo’ and a chi-rho symbol. These motif pieces
may indicate that the inhabitants were involved in the manufacture and decoration of church
manuscripts or artefacts.
Two smaller ditches radiated from the enclosure to the south and represented field enclosures. The
curving hedgerow of the townland boundary complemented one of these which demonstrates an
associated field system and suggests the early medieval antiquity of townland divisions. When the
two field ditches were taken together they formed a petal-shaped field enclosure. Material from a
posthole marking one of the boundaries was dated between the late seventh and late ninth centuries.
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