EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Limerick
‘Carraig Aille II’ (Lough Gur td.), Co. Limerick
Early Medieval Settlement Enclosure & Field Pattern
Grid Ref: R65344064 (165345/140643)
SMR No: LI032-053003
Excavation Licence: N/A
Excavation Duration/year: 1936-1940?
Site Director: S.P. Ó Ríordáin (University College Cork)
Carraig Aille II, excavated as part of a University College Cork research dig, is a stone cashel
with evidence for intensive internal habitation (e.g. successive layers of structures, hearths
and paved surfaces), as well as associated external houses and enclosures. The site was
situated 40m from Carraig Aille I, on a ridge of land overlooking the marsh of Knockadoon
with ground sloping rapidly to the east, gradually to the south and precipitously to the west.
The site enclosed an area approximately 47m in diameter (Fig. 187). The stone walls vary in
thickness from 3.6m to 4.2m, and appear to be faced with larger stone slabs, with a rubble
core. Steps were built into the inner wall face to allow access, presumably to a platform or
terrace no longer extant. A black habitation refuse covered with a gravel floor was discovered
at one point beneath the enclosure wall and was interpreted as temporary dwelling during
the cashel’s construction.
The eastern entrance was defined by areas of paving and cobbling and contained a recess on
either side of the entrance which may have supported a gate-structure. The area of paving
began outside the entrance, continuing as a narrow causeway into the enclosure interior and
was evidently a very early feature as it lay directly on the original rock surface.
Successive layers of occupation debris, clay floors, hearths and multiple-phases of metalling
were uncovered in the interior. The early houses on site appear to have been round or
curvilinear in form, and were probably wooden framed. One of the round houses was
evidently a very early feature as it pre-dated the paved causeway lying directly on the old
ground surface. The later houses were stone built - using similar techniques to those used to
create the cashel wall and were also associated with hearths as well as large areas of stone
paving. The best preserved house was paved inside and measured 6m internally, with walls
0.75m thick.
A number of rectangular houses, built in a similar fashion to the cashel’s walls, were
associated with rectangular stone yards and enclosures in the level ground to the north of the
cashel. One house with a paved surface measured 9.3m by 2.8m internally and was
associated with eight postholes supporting the superstructure. Butting onto the cashel’s
southern perimeter was another stone structure with a paved surface, associated with a
possible ancient field bank.
A considerable collection of early medieval finds was recovered inside the cashel.
Unfortunately, few could be confidently correlated with any of the successive occupation
layers and only gave a general dating for the site. A hoard of silver objects was found
secreted into the inner face of the cashel wall, and a silver ingot was found in the rubble fill.
Both have been interpreted as being Viking. A number of bronze objects were also found
including the terminal mount for a drinking-horn (also interpreted as Viking) as well as a
collection of pins and a toilet implement.
Sixteen iron pins and fifty-four iron knives were found on site, as well as a plough-sock,
shears, two chisels, two saws and two awls. Iron weapons were also recovered from the site
- an axe-head; a javelin-head; one (possibly two) arrow-heads; three pointed sockets from
spear shafts; and four objects with three- or four-prongs. Portions of twenty-two bone combs
were found as was thirty-four bone pins and thirty-one bone and stone spindle whorls. Thirtyfive
portions of rotary quernstones, thirty three whet-stones, twenty glass beads (varying in
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