1992:153 - RAFFIN FORT, Meath

Raffin Fort is a circular enclosure, about 65m in diameter, consisting of a bank and internal fosse and an entrance in the south-east. A counter-scarp feature divides the site into two unequal portions a little to the east of centre along the north-south axis. The site was bulldozed flat in July 1988 and in 1989 the OPW funded a rescue excavation to identify site type, date and the extent of damage inflicted in 1988. The complexity of the site, its ceremonial function and its date in the later Bronze Age and Iron Age have established it as one of the most important sites currently under investigation. Readers will be familiar with the site from previous editions of Excavations (Excavations 1989, 18; 1990, 48; 1991, 39). Evidence from the 1992 season has considerably altered our interpretation of some of the features and we now consider that the complicated stratigraphic sequence represents a series of enclosures, culminating in the creation of a large earthwork that stood until 1988.

Four seasons of excavations between 1989 and 1992 have been carried out at Raffin Fort. While 6 different phases have been recognised, the main activity appears to have taken place during the Later Bronze and Iron Age when the site functioned as a ritual enclosure. The earliest definitive phase (Phase Two) is evidenced by a narrow palisade trench which, if projected on its present course, encloses an oval-shaped area (c. 26m max. length north-south). Posts from the trench have produced a C14 date in the later Bronze Age. The exposed, C-shaped portion is contained within the main fosse and bank enclosing the site (no secure relative chronology can be ascertained). However, if projected as an oval, which is its likely shape, it probably extends beyond the confines of the present enclosure, and on present evidence is probably earlier. A series of linear, curving V- and U-sectioned palisade (?) trenches running north-south have been provisionally ascribed to this phase, though they may form part of a second enclosure, in which case they would probably not be contemporary. These trenches may have been deliberately back-filled preparatory to the Third Phase erection of a fence which, again, if projected as a complete circuit, would enclose a circular area c. 13m in diameter. The greater part of its projected circuit has been exposed in the course of excavating other features, but thus far only a small portion, consisting of about 45º of arc, has been found. The fence appears to be contemporary with a series of pits and one or two horizontal features that have yielded sherds of Coarse Ware and a C14 date in the later Bronze Age. The pits and the fence feature were truncated by the digging of a foundation trench for a 9m diameter round house (House A) dating to the Iron Age (1st-2nd cents AD) erected in the Fifth Phase. No habitation deposits have been uncovered within the house and its true function remains unknown, although we believe it to have been a ceremonial building.

To the west of House A is a second circular building, House B (uncovered in the 1992 season), 13m in diameter, consisting of a two concentric foundation trenches with an elaborate entrance feature in the south-west. Though stratigraphically on a par with House A, House B is probably earlier and therefore provisionally assigned to Phase Four. This structure bears close comparison with the 'Rose' phase building at Dun Aillinne, Co. Kildare, albeit on a smaller scale [1]. Preliminary evidence of a large (ceremonial/central posthole) pit in the centre of the building was observed at the close of the last season and warrants closer inspection. Carbonised wall posts from this building are currently being prepared for C14 analysis. House A was partially buried beneath a low bank which is the product of counter-scarping the hill slope a little to the east of the centre of the site. This took place during the Sixth Phase of activity C14 dated to the Early Christian period. The bank traverses the main fosse at the north end providing a terminus post quem for the fosse. The absolute chronological position of the fosse remains unknown as the date of its construction is uncertain, however, bones from a primary fill are currently being prepared for C14 analysis.

Two further important features can be linked to the general site matrix, but are yet undated. The first is a U-sectioned fosse, running in an arc, truncated by the main site-enclosing fosse, whose dimensions (0.8m-0.9m in depth; 2.5m max. width) suggest that it is part of an earlier enclosure. The primary, charcoal-rich deposit contained fine pressure-flaked flint debitage more likely to be of early than late prehistoric date. If this can be proven (we are awaiting the results of C14 analysis of the associated charcoal) it would add a hugely important dimension to the site, pushing the chronology back into the earlier Bronze Age or Neolithic period. The 2nd undated feature is the ritual deposition of the top-half of a human cranium in a pit marked by a phallus-shaped stone pillar (c. 0.65m high). The pit truncates the Phase Two palisade trench. A small fragment of the cranium is to be submitted for accelerator C14 dating. The discovery of this burial with its phallic grave marker confirms the ceremonial nature of the site and elevates it to national importance.

1. Wailes, B. 1990 'Dun Aillinne: A Summary Excavation Report'. Emania 7, 10-21, See in particular Fig. 2.

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