EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Laois
Parknahown, Co. Laois
Early Medieval Settlement-Cemetery.
Grid Ref: S34227419 (234223/174191)
SMR No: N/A
Excavation Licence: 06E2170
Excavation Duration/Year: March 2005 - 2006
Site Director: T. O’Neill (ACS)
Topsoil stripping prior to road construction uncovered a series of archaeological features set
on a low plateau overlooking the River Goul. These consisted of an enclosure ditch, a later
double-ditched enclosure, and an enclosed cemetery (Fig. 182).
The earliest ditched enclosure measured 54m in diameter, and was defined by a ditch 2.25m
wide and 1.2m deep. It appears to have been a domestic site, and fragments of bone needles
and a bone comb were recovered from the ditch fill. Some corroded iron knife blades were
also recovered from this phase. A radiocarbon date from this enclosure places it to the fifth to
seventh century (see below). This enclosure ditch was deliberately in-filled during the
construction of the double-ditched enclosure.
The internal diameter of the later double-ditched enclosure was 60m, and dimensions for the
larger ditch are recorded as 4m wide and 2.2m deep. An external linear feature discovered by
geophysics would appear to be contemporary with this enclosure, and may represent a field
boundary. The enclosure ditches were allowed to silt-up naturally, but there is also evidence
for re-cutting. Radiocarbon dates from the double-ditched enclosure suggest it was
constructed in the fifth or sixth century (which suggests that construction of the single
enclosure ditch must fall in the early part of the radiocarbon-derived date range), and dating
from the re-cut suggests this was done in the eleventh or twelfth century (see below). A
large quantity of animal bone was recovered from the ditch (cattle, horse, pig, sheep and
deer), but this had not been fully analysed at time of writing.
The most impressive find from this phase was a penannular copper-alloy brooch with birdhead
terminals. This is Anglo-Saxon in style (and probably in origin) and is dated to the
seventh century.
A possible circular structure defined by slot-trenches and postholes may belong to either of
these enclosure phases. Radiocarbon dates from the gully associated with this structure,
however, make it more likely to belong to the earlier phase.
The cemetery enclosure is placed within the double-ditched enclosure. Almost five hundred
burials were uncovered (472), most of which were east-west aligned after the Christian
fashion. Some of these burials were associated with ‘ear muffs’ (i.e. stones places on either
side of the head to prevent rolling), and a number of decorative items were also found
associated with the burials. These included glass beads, bone beads, copper-alloy pins, bone
pins, a fragmented jet bracelet, and a copper-alloy mount with inset enamel.
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