County: Louth Site name: WHITERATH (Site 2)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 99E0485
Author: Cóilín Ó Drisceoil, for Valerie J. Keeley Ltd.
Site type: Souterrain and Enclosure
Period/Dating: Early Medieval (AD 400-AD 1099)
ITM: E 704123m, N 798537m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.925712, -6.414634
The site was found by the author during monitoring of topsoil-stripping in advance of the construction of the Dunleer–Dundalk Bypass. Excavations commenced on 16 August 1999 and were completed on 7 April 2000. An archaeological area measuring 50m x 20m was identified inside the road-take. Within this, a souterrain, three ditches and two large pits were excavated.
The souterrain
The souterrain was an irregular U-shape, 28.1m in total length and c. 1m wide. Two parallel drystone walls formed the side-walls of the structure. Most of the roof lintels were robbed out, and the structure was backfilled with material from this robber trench. Based on ceramic evidence, this destruction appears to have taken place in the early post-medieval period.
There were two entrances, one of which was blocked up in antiquity. These led into a low passage that turned a sharp corner and led to a stepped feature, down to a lower level. Underneath the step was a hidden compartment that contained a large quantity of animal bone. A bone-bead necklace was found outside it.
A passage leading to a chamber formed the lower level. This chamber was defined by two jambs and associated large post-holes and terminated in a wall of subsoil. Thin ‘occupation’ layers were recorded over the floor of much of the souterrain. Finds from these included a bronze panel with an enamel interlace decoration that was probably attached to a paten. Souterrain ware, iron slag and a large quantity of animal bone were also found here.
The ditches
The three ditches may represent two distinct phases in the defence of a ringfort. The eastern and western ditches enclosed a width of 41m. Geophysical survey suggested that these two ditches joined. A third ditch was located within this area, parallel to the ditch on the west. This runs to within 1m of the souterrain. Only around one-third of the diameter of it was excavated, and the geophysical survey failed to identify its full extent. Finds from the ditches included ring-pins, iron knives, souterrain ware and medieval pottery, a polished stone axehead, iron hooks, an iron reaping hook, industrial slag and a large quantity of animal bone.
About half of a broken blue glass armlet was found in the fill of one of the pits. The second pit, which was keyhole-shaped, may be interpreted as an unused corn-drying kiln.
Based on artefact typologies, a date range in the 9th–10th centuries is likely, though forthcoming radiocarbon dates should refine this.
6 Riverview, Ardnore, Kilkenny
