2006:703 - SKERRIES: Barnageeragh, Dublin

The first period of excavations at Barnageeragh, Skerries, was conducted by Neil Fairburn between August and December 2005 (04E1639). The excavations were completed by the writer between May and August 2006 under the present licence. The site was divided into eight fields, where areas of activity were recorded, in addition to a series of peripheral features/groups of features.

In Field 1 there was a univallate ringfort measuring c. 30m diameter. The ditch was a maximum of 4m wide and 1.15m deep; there was no evidence of a bank. Some bone pins, animal bone and shell were recovered from the fill of this ditch. A smaller ditch, representative of an internal structure, was located to the north of the centre within the ringfort enclosure. The diameter of this smaller ditch was c. 13m and it was 1.25m wide and 0.13m deep. This ditch had a 2m-wide entrance gap to the south-west. Within the ringfort there was a souterrain, with its passage entrance located 2m south of the entrance to the inner structure. It had a circular chamber that measured 3.2m in diameter, and the passage length was c. 6m.

Along the eastern side of the ringfort there was a series of ditches. They seemed to be contemporary with and directly connected to the ringfort, forming an annexe. An enamelled copper alloy brooch was recovered from the fill of one of one of these ditches. South-east of the ringfort there were two stone-lined features. One was a passage-like linear feature with partly collapsed stone walls. It measured c. 5m north–south by 1m. This could represent the passage of an incomplete souterrain. The second feature measured c. 4.3m east–west by 1.3m. The base was partly covered by a stone platform, possibly the remains of a floor surface. Further to the south-east of the ringfort there was an enclosure with a central crouched inhumation. The diameter of the circular enclosure was c. 13m. As yet no radiocarbon dates are available for these features.

Two smaller souterrains were located west of the ringfort. They both had circular chambers measuring 1.5m in diameter. The passages of both souterrains were ramped and were c. 7m long and 0.6m wide. The western of the souterrains had a second stone-lined linear passage exiting the chamber c. 0.5m above the floor surface. In the same area there were a series of pits, which may be connected to the use of the souterrains. A hearth with an associated burnt spread and possible stake-holes was also recorded in this area. South-west of these two souterrains there was an area with a relatively large concentration of medieval pottery. The area was partly covered by a stone surface, which seemed to have framed a rectangular structure. There was no evidence of the structure itself, just the rectangular shape created by the stone surface.

South of the ringfort and souterrains were two ring-ditches and a large pit filled with burnt-mound material. The exposed length of the outer ring-ditch was c. 25m. It was 0.7m deep and 1.75m wide. The exposed length of the inner ditch was c. 42m. This ditch was 0.54m deep and c. 1m wide. Both ditches appeared to extend beyond the limits of excavation to the south. A keyhole-shaped pit with a platform of stones was excavated in the same area, in addition to a possible trough. The trough was rectangular, with one stake-hole in each corner. It measured c. 2m north–south by 1.12m and the depth was 0.26m.

In Field 2 was a horseshoe-shaped enclosure. The total length of the enclosure ditch was c. 60m and the diameter c.18m. The maximum width was 1.5m and it was 0.8m deep. It was located on a south-facing slope with the entrance to the north. Within the enclosure there were features possibly associated with the ditch. These consisted of five pits, three of which exhibited evidence of in situ burning. North of the entrance of this enclosure was another curving ditch, with the two ends running towards the enclosure ditch. The maximum width of this ditch was 1.25m and the depth was 0.6m. Parts of this ditch were heavily truncated by an east–west-running field boundary ditch and hedge, but the recorded length was c. 47m. The distance between the two terminals was c. 30m.

In proximity to these ditches, but located outside them, was a kiln. It measured c. 6.2m east–west by 1.5m and was a maximum of 0.9m in depth. Further west in Field 2 were remains of two burnt mounds; both were truncated by later ditches (field boundary and drainage). A possible trough was recorded in association with the eastern burnt mound. It was subcircular and measured c. 2.25m east–west by 2m. To the south, an area c. 4m long and 2.25m wide was stepped towards the trough.

In Field 5 two pits were excavated, one of which contained prehistoric pottery; there were no other archaeological features near this pit.

In Field 7 was an area with patches of burnt material, possibly the remains of a ploughed-out burnt mound. There were three pits nearby, one of which may represent a trough associated with the burnt spread. This was subcircular in plan and measured 1.4m north–south by 1m and was a maximum of 0.45m deep. One of the other pits was stone-lined and measured 2.45m east–west by 1.5m. The depth of this pit was 0.46m.

A number of ditches, smaller linear features, pits and possible post-holes were also recorded in Fields 1–3 and 5–7, some of which were in the vicinity of the abovementioned features, and some more peripheral. The ditches seemed to be mainly field boundaries and drainage ditches.

Post-excavation analysis of the features excavated on this site is ongoing.

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