2006:AD13 - PARKNAHOWN (5), Laois

Archaeological resolution of Parknahown 5, on the M7 Portlaoise to Castletown/M8 Portlaoise to Cullahill motorway scheme, commenced on 4 July 2005 (see Excavations 2005, No. 906, for initial report). Topsoil-stripping on this site revealed a large number of archaeological features, including an early medieval double-ditched enclosure, which cut an earlier enclosure, a large early medieval burial-ground, prehistoric settlement evidence in the form of pits and post-holes and a number of burnt-mound spreads.

Early medieval enclosures
Approximately 60% of the early medieval site was contained within the road-take. The site was originally defined by an early medieval enclosure that was subsequently cut by a double-ditched enclosure in an effort to enlarge the site. The southern and south-western portions of the earliest enclosure were backfilled in antiquity, with material extracted during the excavation of the double ditch. The western portion was subsequently incorporated into the larger double ditch. The northern portion of the enclosure was recut twice. Its content revealed that it was initially used c. AD 410–600 and continued in use up to at least AD 960–1220. Finds from the northern extent of the enclosure included an array of domestic and industrial implements including rotary quernstone fragments, iron chisels, iron knife blades, a badly corroded ring pin, iron slag, iron tweezers, iron nails and a bone comb. Such a quantity of metal and waste metal products suggests that industrial activity was being carried out either within or in the vicinity of the site. No evidence of any furnaces or metalworking areas were present within the excavated portion of the site, but these finds are proof that metalworking did take place close by.

The double-ditched enclosure was subcircular and measured 60m in diameter. Radiocarbon analysis has revealed that the double ditch was in use between AD 589–655 and AD 770–980. These dates were retrieved from animal bone recovered from the base and the top of the larger inner ditch respectively. Both ditches respected each other, demonstrating that they were roughly contemporary, and a date of AD 650–820 was recovered from the outer of the two ditches. A large quantity of animal bone, including cow, horse, pig, sheep and deer, among others, was retrieved from the double ditch. This has yet to be analysed; however, cut marks, a result of butchery, were evident on a large quantity of the bone.

An impressive penannular copper-alloy brooch with zoomorphic decoration was recovered from one of the upper fills of the double ditch. The terminals of the brooch were fashioned in a bird-head design. This brooch was Anglo-Saxon in style and possibly in origin, and dates to the late 7th century. Examples of similar types are known from Clogh, Co. Antrim, and moulds for this type of bird-headed brooch are known from Dunadd, Scotland. One other unusual find recovered from the upper fill of one of the double ditches was the remains of an infant burial. The burial was placed in a shallow earth-cut grave and was in a very fragmentary condition. The burial of this infant in such a location was puzzling considering the proximity of the burial cemetery.

Cemetery
The cemetery at Parknahown 5 contained the remains of approximately 600 individuals. It was located within the north-east quadrant of the double-ditched enclosure at the brow of a steep decline to a tributary of the River Goul. This burial-ground was defined by a small curvilinear enclosure ditch measuring 16m by 18m and extended outside of the road-take. The enclosure ditch had an average width of 0.7m and reached a depth of 0.4m. In total, 429 mainly articulated burials were excavated, along with 800 litres of disarticulated human remains. The disarticulated remains were a direct result of later burials cutting earlier burials. The cemetery contained 53% adult burials, 17% juvenile burials and 30% infant burials. Burial within the cemetery commenced in the early medieval period and continued for a number of centuries. The majority of the burials were extended inhumations in simple earth-cut graves. Occasionally there was evidence for pillow-stones, earmuffs and rudimentary stone lining. Finds from the burial-ground included bronze ring-pins, bone needles and glass beads, all of which dated to the early medieval period.

Settlement
The cemetery was not centrally located within the enclosed area, suggesting that a burial-ground was not the primary function of the site. Few other features were located within the interior of the enclosures; however, an increased level of activity was noted towards the south-eastern extent of the site. This activity was represented by a shallow curvilinear gully, pits, post-holes and spreads of burnt material which extended beneath the limit of the road. The circular gully was radiocarbon dated to AD 530–660. It consisted of a 14m length of curvilinear gully that was discontinuous to its south and south-eastern extents, where a deposit of charcoal-rich material rested. This material was radiocarbon dated toAD 760–980, post-dating the gully and possibly cutting it. The gully measured 6m in diameter and two post-holes were located along its length. It did not contain any internal features; however, its shallow nature (depth 0.22m) suggests severe truncation. The size and ephemeral nature of this structure suggests that, rather than a dwelling, it may represent a temporary structure or an annexe off a larger structure.

Prehistoric
A burnt mound was excavated to the north-western extent of the site, close to the River Goul. This extended beyond the western extent of the road-take. A simple earth-cut trough was exposed beneath the spread.

Other prehistoric activity included a collection of eight pits and nine post-holes located towards the southern extent of the site. The post-holes did not form any coherent pattern, although four were arranged to form a square shape. In total, 101 pieces of flint debitage, two sherds of Bronze Age pottery and eight flint scrapers were retrieved from one post-hole. Other finds included Bronze Age pottery, flint debitage and a flint blade. The finds appear to be representative of domestic and industrial Bronze Age activity, including the production of flint tools. No radiocarbon results have been returned for these features to date.

Post-excavation analysis of Parknahown 5 is currently ongoing. A large number of specialist analysis reports have not yet been completed for this site.

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