County: Wicklow Site name: CARRIGNAMUCK
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: —
Author: Anna L. Brindley, Office of Public Works
Site type: Hut Sites
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 704214m, N 683959m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.896382, -6.451121
Excavation took place between 7th and 25th August 1978 on two hut sites (A and B) on the west side of the Wicklow mountains. Site A consisted of two circular, conjoined structures (A1, A2) each with an entrance in its west side, aligned north-south across the contours of a steep, south–facing mountain slope. Total length of both structures – 10m.; internal diameters of A1 – 4m.; of A2 – 2.4m. The walls of A1 were c.1.2m thick and stood to a maximum preserved height of 1.5m along the inner face of the north side. A2 was proportionally smaller. A large earthfast boulder formed part the north side of A1 and projected north from it. A short stretch of very crude walling projected east from this to form a rough shelter, c.2.4m square and opening to the east. The floors had been levelled by the introduction of soil. Adjacent, south-east, were traces of a possible third hut. No evidence habitation, in the form of hearths, charcoal, ash or artefacts. as found. A horse scapula (identified by F. McCormick) was covered from the wall of A1, beside the entrance.
Site B lay c.1/4 mile east of Site A, on the same mountain slope, but facing south-cast. Traces of a level platform and a semicircle of drystone wall were preserved only on the upslope portion of the site. No trace of occupation material was covered.
These may be booly huts but the excavator would be grateful any comments on interpretation.
