2001:439 - LAMBAY ISLAND, Dublin

The final season of excavation at this site took place in 2001 (results of the last five seasons are summarised in Excavations 1996, No. 129; Excavations 1997, No. 180; Excavations 1998, No. 209; Excavations 1999, No. 256; Excavations 2000, No. 316). In brief, the site, termed the Eagle’s Nest site, shows evidence for two related activities: the working of the porphyritic andesite (porphyry) outcrops which form the sides of two valleys, for stone axe production, and the occurrence of a number of related features on the floor of the larger, eastern valley. These are under and partially truncated by a cultivation soil which was the result of intensive, 19th-century spade cultivation.

The purpose of the 2001 season was to complete the excavation of the features in the different zones recognised in the C904/C912 complex on the floor of the eastern valley in 1999–2000. These contexts represent the major sediments composing the matrix in which stones and cultural material were placed to create a low monument. It is clear that there were localised, repeated foci of activity in the build-up of the monument. The zonation of the area (see Excavations 2000) became less relevant as we moved to the basal stratigraphic levels, but is retained where useful below.
Excavation in the east and north-east zone showed that here C912 lay over a hollow in the original ground surface. It appears that this hollow (approximately 2.5m north–south by 2m) was filled with a spread of C912, which in turn was covered with spreads of stone, in some cases in very deliberate ‘setting’-type arrangements (F27, F28, F29) as had been revealed in previous seasons. The most clearly defined of these was F28. The construction of F28 and the depositional activity in and on it was focused on a large gable-shaped andesite slab (0.75m x 0.15m x 0.6m). This was the first element of F28 placed on the surface of C912. There was no socket for this stone but there appeared to be a couple of small chock stones placed below it. The differing density of finds in C912 suggests that there may have been some deposition of material around this gable-shaped slab prior to the deposition of the stones that formed the lower levels of F28.

At the south end of the C904/912 complex the main issue to be resolved was a spread of stones that extended over 3m south-east/north-west and was 2m at its widest north-east/south-west. The north-west end of this spread consisted of a zone of large porphyry blocks. The upper stones in this spread were also covered by C912. The stone spread turned out to be made up of three distinct elements: F38, F41A and F41B.

F38 is a spread of stones 2m by 1.2m in extent with a depth of 0.2m. It is sealed by C912. The spread of stones is in a hollow in the original soil surface (C908). This may be in part a natural hollow but it has a steep southern slope and on the western side the hollow is definitely cut into the shallow spread of stones that forms F41a. Hence it appears that F38 is the deliberate fill of what may be in part a created hollow which disturbed an earlier feature (F41a). The character of the stone in F38 suggests that it is connected with an episode of working porphyry as all stages of débitage are present, from blocks to small chips, and there are a small number of cobbles and hammer-stones.

Feature 41A is a thin spread of angular pieces of porphyry, all around 0.1m or less in maximum dimension. It is 2.4m by 1.8m in extent, set in a sediment about 0.1m in depth. It is directly above the undulating original soil surface (C908), is covered by C912 and cut by F38 to the east. It also seems to be earlier than F41B to the west, as the stones of F41B overlie the spread of F41A. It appears to be early in the sequence of activity on the site. This is supported by the discovery of a couple of sherds of carinated bowl pottery in F41A. The pottery otherwise found in contexts in this area was decorated globular bowl pottery.

Feature 41B is later than F41A. This is an area of larger pieces and blocks of porphyry to the north-west of F41A. It is about 1.2m by 1m in extent. It appears to be focused on a large subrectangular block, 0.5m by 0.5m by 0.2m. Feature 41B represents the deliberate placement of large porphyry blocks. Stratigraphically these are also later than the pit complex (see below) and earlier than C912. Feature 41B became a focus of deposition in the build-up of the monument.

The excavation of the area around F37, a polygonal slab setting, provided evidence for a complex sequence of activity that has implications for understanding other parts of the monumental build-up. Excavation in 2001 made it clear that this slab setting, 0.75m by 0.6m, was placed in and as part of a dark brown/yellow brown, sandy, charcoal-rich, ashy sediment (C910). The slabs of the setting appear to be burnt and they were placed at different levels in the C910 build-up. The material of C910 appears to have been deliberately mounded around the west and north sides of the stones forming the setting. A series of gravel-, stone- and artefact-rich deposits appear to have been placed on the surface of C910 (F47–50). Before F37 was complete, a small pit (F46), 0.35m by 0.18m by 0.1m, was dug in the interior and filled with charcoal-rich material which included a fragment of a carbonised wooden object and a flint perforator. Over this fill a miniature setting of porphyry was placed inside F37 and the slabs on the southern side were put in place. Excavation of C910 within the slab setting revealed a small number of deposits, including a porphyry rough-out.

Context 910 was found to fill a hollow, 1.4m by 1.3m, in the existing surface. This hollow was characterised by the contact between C910 and the underlying surface being oxidised, again suggesting that C910 involves the deposits of ashy, possibly still hot material. It was originally assumed that this was a hollow in the original soil surface (C908) but the area to the west and north of F37 was found to be made up of a series of intercutting pits. The later of these pits, such as F75, were found to have a mounded surface, projecting 0.05–0.08m above the surrounding ground level.

Excavation of the F41B stones to the south of F37 revealed that they were sitting directly over another part of this complex of pits. It is clear that there is a direct succession of activity from the latest of these pits with the deposition of the large blocks of porphyry. The pits under F41B and to the west and north of F37 clearly form a complex of intercutting features which can be treated as a unit. There are at least 38 pits and they extend over an area that is up to 4m (north–south) by 2m in extent. While the northern and western edges of this complex of pits must be seen as problematic because of later disturbance, the stratigraphical conditions suggested that we have identified the full extent of the complex to the south and east. It would seem clear that the C910-related activity, such as the placement of the polygonal setting (F37) and the placement of F41B, was carried out with knowledge of and respect for this pit complex in mind.

Given the significance of this pit complex it was decided to sample it and leave 50% of the pits unexcavated. Excavation was focused in the southern side of the complex and a couple of the latest pits on the northern side were also excavated. Twelve pits were excavated. Because of the intercutting nature of the complex, excavation of this sample also provided an opportunity to record the maximum dimensions and fills of other pits.

It is clear that F56 (unexcavated), F57, F58 and F59 are the latest pits. The latter two were covered by F41B. F56 is covered with a substantial spread of stones, reminiscent of the effect of F41B over F58 and F59. These four pits are over 0.5m in surface extent and over 0.2m deep, with distinctive fill deposits and a number of finds. The distance between them suggests perhaps a degree of design in their placement. There was, however, no indication of post-pipes in the fills. The earlier pits tend to be smaller: 0.3m across at the surface, with a depth of up to 0.15m. In several cases the fill appears to consist primarily of redeposited or backfilled subsoil. In one or two there are inclusions of what appears to be beach rather than local gravel. There is also a very small quantity of finds.

At the completion of the 2001 season the site was backfilled and particular attention was given to protecting the unexcavated area of the pit complex.

Comment
In relation to what can be described as this deliberately created low monument, it is clear that the different stratigraphic phases are linked and that over time different parts of this complex were brought together through the deposition of spreads of sediment (C912 and C904) and stones. The sequence starts with a series of pits: the pit complex at the west discussed above and the F25 pits at the north-east, and possibly one or two other small pits. It seems likely that F41A, a spread of stones and sediment, pre-dates these pits and may be the earliest surviving deposit in this area of the valley floor. The latest of the pits are covered by deposition of stone and at the same time, or slightly later, there is the occurrence of the C910-related activity. This includes the filling of a hollow to the east of the pit complex, the construction of F37, and the deposition of a series of deposits, including a hoard with an Orcadian-type macehead. A general spread of sediment, C912, is placed across much of the area. This fills a hollow in the north-east of the area which then becomes a focus for depositional activity, including the creation of at least one definite stone setting (F28). Different kinds of deposits are placed in different areas and there is an upper sediment layer, C904, in which the upper levels of the monument are set.

There are very strong grounds for suggesting that all the stages in this depositional sequence were linked. It would seem that there is continuous referencing back to earlier deposits in the same locations. Culturally also there seems to be a continuity in the material culture deposited which can be attributed to the Middle/Late Neolithic. This monument will be a key element in the overall understanding of the Neolithic activities at the Eagle’s Nest site. Assessment of this season’s results and the overall excavation is ongoing.