EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Meath
Dowdstown 2, Co. Meath
Early Medieval Settlement Enclosure Complex
Grid reference: N89686254 (289684/262547)
SMR No: N/A
Excavation Licence No: A008/033
Excavation Duration/Year: September 2005 – December 2006
Site director: L. Cagney (ACS Ltd.)
Dowdstown 2 excavated in advance of the M3 road-scheme, was a large early medieval
enclosed settlement and mixed agricultural complex (Fig. 236). Initially, a circular enclosure
was constructed between the mid fifth and mid seventh centuries. This was succeeded by a
complex of field enclosures and annexes dating to the eighth/ninth centuries. Two structures
and a large number of cereal-drying kilns were also recorded. The site was situated on a
steep scarp where the land fell away very sharply to the northwest – between 44m and 49m
OD – towards the River Boyne. This area was regularly flooded during excavation.
The earliest feature on site was a circular enclosure (Enclosure 1) measuring 32m in internal
diameter that was dated between A.D. 426 and 600 (see below for radiocarbon dates). The
entrance was possibly located to the northeast although this was not entirely certain. Finds
associated with this early phase included animal bone, an iron knife, a bone knife handle and
decorated bead, a quern stone fragment, fragments of iron objects and assorted struck flints.
The enclosure ditch was re-cut between the mid-sixth and mid-seventh centuries as it was
prone to silting. The shape and form of the enclosure was maintained. Animal bone was not
discovered in large quantities during this phase and artefacts were also few and included a
copper alloy fragment and struck flint. A second, and final, re-cut to the enclosing ditch
revealed a larger quantity of finds including a bone pin, a possible whetstone, a copper alloy
fragment, a possible clay loom weight and struck flint. Animal bone was again rare.
Only a few internal features survived within the circular enclosure at Dowdstown 2. These
included a C-shaped ditch that was re-cut a number of times and was probably contemporary
with the enclosure. Finds from the initial excavation and re-cut of the ditch were few but the
second and third re-cuts produced a more plentiful assemblage including iron knifes, a
needle, a pin, copper alloy objects, fragments of iron objects, worked bone and struck flint.
Some iron slag and oxidised clay was also present from the third re-cut.
A rectangular multi-phase enclosure (Enclosure 2), measuring 32m by 16m, was annexed
onto the eastern side of the circular enclosure. The ditch fills included animal bone and
charred seeds. Artefacts included a worked stone, a piece of quartz, an iron fragment and a
number of flints. It is likely that this was contemporary with the circular enclosure and with
enclosures 4 and 5 (Figs. 237; 238).
The next phase at Dowdstown 2 consisted of the amalgamation of the two enclosures above
into a larger D-shaped enclosed settlement (Enclosure 3). The enclosure ditch was re-cut on
a number of occasions but internal features were again rare. Finds from the initial ditch cut
included a fragment of a copper alloy strap attachment, an iron knife, fragments of iron
objects, bone objects including a comb fragment and spindle whorl and a bone pin fragment,
a fragment of lignite and numerous flint objects. The initial construction of the D-shaped
enclosure has been dated to A.D. 680-882 and its establishment represented a clear
expansion of the settlement.
The shape and size of the enclosure was maintained after its first re-cut. This phase was
dated between the mid seventh and late eighth centuries. Animal bone was common but
charred cereal grains were less frequent. Artefacts included a decorative ring from a tinned
copper alloy pin, an iron bill hook, iron knife fragments, fragments of iron objects, a lignite
fragment and frequent flint items. The second re-cut displayed potential evidence for a
causewayed entrance to the east as this had not been located in earlier excavation. Animal
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