EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Meath
Colp West, Co. Meath
Early Medieval Settlement Enclosure Complex
Grid reference: O11797415 (31179/27415)
SMR No: ME020-043
Excavation Licence No: 99E0472
Excavation Duration/Year: September 2000 - February 2001
Site director: L. Clarke (ACS Ltd.)
Colp West, excavated in advance of a housing development, was a multi-period enclosure
complex that also revealed at least seventeen cereal-drying kilns, postholes, spreads and pits
(Fig. 235). The early medieval phases included a primary circular enclosure and six variously
shaped associated enclosures. Some of the kilns were dated to this period. Earlier
archaeological evidence included a Bronze Age enclosure, hut and pits, an Iron Age
enclosure, cereal-drying kilns and a range of other features. The site was located on
agriculturally productive land on a ridge – 40m OD – with good views of the surrounding
landscape. It lay southwest of an early medieval cemetery (Gowen 1988) and a monastic site
to the east.
The circular enclosure, measuring 29m in diameter, and a southern annex represented the
first phase of early medieval occupation at Colp West. The former enclosed a souterrain, a
hearth and two pits and an entrance was located to the southeast. The latter had a diameter
of 20m and no contemporary features were enclosed. Another oval enclosure, further south
(not fully excavated, diameter 11.5m), was possibly contemporary with Phase I and was also
absent of features. It is possible that they both functioned as livestock enclosures. Charcoal
from silting of the circular enclosure ditch was dated to A.D. 604-725 but the construction
date may be slightly earlier (see Table A for radiocarbon dates). The southern oval annex was
similarly dated to A.D. 563-688.
Large quantities of animal bone were present in the circular enclosure ditch and cereal grains
were also identified. Artefacts included a bronze pin, two knife blades and a whetstone
fragment. A fragmentary bone comb with spiral and dot decoration was recovered from the
fill of the souterrain. The southern annex produced only a small amount of animal bone.
Slight evidence for a timber palisade trench was present which increases the likelihood of its
interpretation as a livestock enclosure.
During Phase II, a large sub-rectangular enclosure was annexed onto the northern side of the
circular enclosure. It was not fully excavated and measured 55m by 20m. Animal bone from
the ditch fill was dated to A.D. 618-772. The southern oval enclosure was replaced, during
this phase, by a second sub-rectangular enclosure which had a diameter of 15m. It produced
a similar date of A.D. 604-725. The large northern sub-rectangular area enclosed a number of
features but these were earlier in date to its construction and were also chronologically earlier
than the circular enclosure. No features were evident in the southern sub-rectangular
enclosure but evidence for a palisade survived. The lack of internal features and occupational
evidence from the enclosure ditches suggests these possibly functioned as livestock or field
enclosures.
An undated C-shaped enclosure – measuring 18m in length – cut the above features and
possibly represents the final early medieval phase. A decorated blue glass bead was
uncovered from the ditch fill. The enclosure ditch was mainly devoid of artefacts and
occupational debris.
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