County: Monaghan Site name: MANNAN CASTLE, Donaghmoyne
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 28:118 Licence number: 99E0044 ext.
Author: Eoghan Moore
Site type: Castle - motte and bailey and Castle - Anglo-Norman masonry castle
Period/Dating: Medieval (AD 400-AD 1600)
ITM: E 684991m, N 807211m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.007130, -6.703423
The major objective of the 2000 excavation at Mannan Castle was the investigation of the relationship between the features uncovered in the 1999 excavation (Excavations 1999, 252–4), i.e. the foundation trench for a small building/workshop, the boundary ditch and the perimeter ditch. This meant the completion of the excavation of, and the removal of the baulks between, Cuttings 1, 2 and 4. Another objective was to investigate whether or not an exterior ditch and/or palisade existed immediately to the south of the inner bailey.
The excavation revealed that the foundation trench for the small building/workshop and the boundary trench were actually the foundation trenches of a much larger structure. A southern step-like foundation trench was also uncovered, which linked the western and eastern foundation trenches. No foundation trench was uncovered at the north of the structure. The interior dimensions of the structure were 8m max. north–south by 5m max. The maximum depth of the foundation trenches was 0.4–0.5m. A single post-hole was uncovered at the north of the structure, which was interpreted as a support post for the roof. An area of burning was uncovered immediately to the north of the structure, while a hearth was uncovered in its interior. A large quantity of iron slag and some iron artefacts were found. Their presence, together with the hearth and the area of burning, suggests that the structure may have been a forge.
The excavation also revealed that the perimeter ditch was not part of the possible forge structure; it should be regarded primarily as a perimeter defensive ditch.
A stone surface was uncovered immediately to the east of the possible forge. This was regarded as contemporary with it as it abutted the forge’s eastern foundation trench.
One cutting was located immediately to the south of the inner bailey to investigate any ditch and/or palisade feature that may have existed there. However, no exterior ditch and/or palisade was found.
Two further cuttings were excavated to the east of the forge to investigate the remains of another structure that had been located by geophysical surveys. The remains of the western and eastern foundation trenches of this structure, which were c. 0.5m wide east–west, were exposed but not excavated.
This research excavation was funded by the National Monuments and Historic Properties Section, Dúchas The Heritage Service, on the recommendation of the National Committee for Archaeology of the Royal Irish Academy.
Prospect House, Dunsrim, Scotshouse, Co. Monaghan
