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EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

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Meath<br />

E ware. A dog skeleton dating to A.D. 606-717 belonged to this phase and two disturbed<br />

human burials – which were associated with one of the enclosures – may also have been<br />

associated with Phase I.<br />

<strong>The</strong> fields were removed to form a much larger U-shaped enclosure (40m by 30m) that was<br />

associated with a number of radiating ditches. <strong>The</strong> Phase II enclosure and ditches contained<br />

large quantities of animal bone and a variety of artefacts including bone pins and comb<br />

fragments, iron knives and two stone gaming boards. This phase was dated by radiocarbon to<br />

the seventh and eighth centuries.<br />

During Phase III, a rectangular enclosure replaced the U-shaped enclosure. Animal bone was<br />

still evident in large quantities and artefacts included a strip of decorated bronze, a fragment<br />

of silver, a lignite bracelet and a possible bone flute. This phase potentially dates between the<br />

eighth and eleventh centuries. <strong>The</strong> final phase consisted of a small thirteenth/fourteenthcentury<br />

enclosure that was constructed in the centre of the Phase III enclosure.<br />

<strong>The</strong> early medieval phases in Area A began as a series of small fields before they were<br />

removed to form a much larger enclosure that was utilised for the slaughtering and<br />

processing of animals. Bone working was also evident.<br />

523

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