1994:190 - MOYNAGH LOUGH, Brittas, Meath

Excavation concentrated on the Early Christian period crannóg (see Excavations 1989 , 41) but it was also discovered that the Later Bronze Age layer was more extensive than previously thought. Only the surface of this layer was exposed within the time available. The finds included two amber beads and a jet ring with transverse perforations, adding to the series of bronze, jet, amber and pottery finds already recovered from this level. The continuation of the occupation layer beyond the areas presently exposed suggests that this may be more than just the remains of a platform used for fishing and fowling. The discovery of the full status of the occupation, however, will have to wait until a further season.

Five phases of Early Christian occupation can now be recognised. Three of these phases have been reported on in previous volumes of Excavations and are simply mentioned here for the sake of completeness.

Phase Z
Very little of this, the uppermost phase, survived the bulldozing activity which led to the discovery of the site. The remains consisted of a palisade, parts of a foundation layer of redeposited peat and a solitary charcoal spread.

Phase Y
The major features comprised a palisade, two round houses and a furnace. Three palisade planks were removed for dendrochronological purposes and after examination by David Brown of Queen's University, Belfast, these yielded a felling date of AD 748.

Phase X
The features associated with this phase consisted of a round house, two metalworking areas, an entrance pathway and a series of cess pits. The suggested dating range for this phase is c. AD 720–c. 748.

Phase W
Like the other phases this one was built upon a layer of redeposited peat (F820/F848). The features identified to date consist of a pit (F827), a hearth (F823), a possible furnace (F836) and a spread of compacted gravel (F825). Of these the initial feature was the pit which had been cut into the layer of redeposited peat to a depth of 0.15m. It was roughly circular with a diameter of approximately 2.2m. The pit was filled with a layer of yellow-brown charcoal-flecked ash and when this had accumulated to a depth of between 0.1m to 0.2m there was a change of use. A layer of compacted gravel was put down, presumably to solidify the surface, and a stone-lined rectangular hearth was built upon it.

The possible furnace consisted of a keyhole-shaped pit set into the gravel and lined with calcareous mud. The circular part of the pit was bowl-shaped, approximately 0.8m in diameter and 0.16m deep; west of this was a roughly funnel-shaped area which sloped down from the ground surface into the bowl. It is tempting to interpret this as a bowl furnace with an adjoining area to accommodate the tuyere and bellows. There was no ring of burnt earth, however, similar to that which characterised the other furnaces found on the site, nor was there any sign of the usual debitage associated with metalworking. The bowl had been backfilled very carefully, however, with tightly packed water-rolled pebbles. It is possible that it was built as a furnace but never used.

To the east of this possible furnace the rectangular stone setting of another hearth (F830) was found. This was filled with a clean white ash some 0.2m deep. Stratigraphically the hearth predated the possible furnace but it is at present unclear whether it formed part of this phase or the earlier Phase V. Other features uncovered in this area whose exact stratigraphical position remains to be determined include some ash spreads and a series of flat timbers (F853), roughly arranged in rows, which was found underneath the pit (F827).

The finds from this phase included a small loop-headed plain-ringed bronze pin, some bone comb fragments, and a jet bracelet sliver. Given its stratigraphical position a date in the late 7th to early 8th century would seem appropriate for this phase.

Phase V
This phase is characterised by a group of refuse layers but so far no structures have been revealed. Among the finds from the refuse layers is a rimsherd of E-ware, a bronze disc-pendant pin, a bronze penannular brooch with bird's-head terminals, double-sided bone combs, glass beads and a leather shoe. Assuming that these layers reflect occupation elsewhere on the crannóg a date in the mid- to late-7th century is suggested. This revises the date which has already been published for the penannular brooch (JRSAI 121 [1991], 22). Underneath these layers was a range of wooden posts which appear to form part of the crannóg substructure.

The excavation is financed by a grant from the National Committee for Archaeology of the Royal Irish Academy which is administered by the National Monuments Branch of the Office of Public Works. A fuller account of the 1994 season has been published in Ríocht na Midhe, 9, No.1 (1994–5),158–169.