EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Louth
Balriggan, Co. Louth
Early Medieval Settlement-Cemetery
Grid reference: J03651070 (303652/310708)
SMR: N/A
Excavation Licence No: 02E1325
Excavation duration: Winter 2002 – Spring 2003
Site director: S. Delaney (IAC Ltd.)
Balriggan, excavated in advance of the M1 motorway, was an extensive settlement-cemetery,
agricultural and industrial complex (Fig. 205). The site consisted of an inner enclosure
(Enclosure A) with evidence for an outer enclosing ditch (Enclosure B). A small cemetery, two
post-built structures and an industrial area were identified within Enclosure A. A number of
radiating ditches and enclosures were situated in between the two ditches. Another large
enclosure lay to the west (Enclosure C), and agricultural and industrial features were also
present external to the enclosures including a cereal-drying kiln, charcoal-production kilns
and a metalworking area. The site was situated within a basin-like depression in the
landscape between 13m and 15m OD. Due to its location, certain surrounding areas of the
site consisted of bog and wetland. The site lay west of Dundalk Bay and close to a number of
excavated contemporary settlements including Newtownbalregan (Bayley 2003; Roycroft
2005), Carn More (Delaney 2003; Roycroft 2005), Tateetra (Hayes 2006), and Faughart
Lower (Bowen 2008).
Enclosure A was originally approximately 48m in diameter. It may have been C-shaped, and
open on its eastern side, or a ditch to the east may represent the eastern part of a
discontinuous enclosure that was open at its north-eastern and south-eastern sides. A
probable millrace and horizontal watermill were evident at its south-eastern side. The former
consisted of a series of raised partitions that created small, regular ponds, while a stone-built
feature, which was fed by the millrace, probably represented a horizontal mill undercroft.
Enclosure A was approached by a parallel ditched entrance at its south-western side and
these ditches, similarly to the enclosure, were re-cut on at least one occasion. No causeway
was present in this area so the enclosure must have been entered by a bridge or temporary
structure. The remodelling of the enclosure slightly altered its size as it measured 44m by
49m. Finds from the inner enclosure ditch included copper-alloy pins, glass beads, a spindle
whorl and weights. Animal bone, including cattle, sheep/goat, deer, pig and horse, and fish
bone were all identified. However, they were not retrieved in large quantities due to the poor
preservation of bone at the site.
A number of archaeological features were identified within the inner enclosure. A series of
postholes on the southern side formed two structures in plan. The first was a rectangular
building, orientated east-west, which measured 5m by 4m. The cemetery was situated
alongside and appeared to respect it which suggests the building was built before the burial
ground, or at least before a later phase of burial. The second structure was another post-built
building that measured approximately 2.7m by 2.6m. A lack of hearths and other domestic
evidence suggests that the structures were not dwellings and the four-post structure may
potentially have been an elevated granary. However, the presence of personal items, animal
bone and other artefacts related to habitation, from the enclosure ditch, indicates that people
lived here but their homes did not survive archaeologically.
The cemetery, which measured roughly 15m by 15m, was situated in proximity and just north
of the structures. The burial ground contained 47 grave cuts and the minimum number of
individuals was 25. The smaller number of skeletons, compared to grave cuts, was due to the
poor preservation of bone at the site. The burials were generally extended west-east
inhumations and the remains – represented by young children, sub-adults, young adults,
adults and middle adults – suggests a family group. No infants or older adults were identified
but this may relate to poor bone survival. The cemetery originally consisted of organised and
structured graves, which were later disturbed by more randomly placed burials.
401