2011:658 - Dunsinane 3, Wexford

Dunsinane 3 was located on the proposed M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy Scheme in a field of pasture. The topsoil is a friable mid brown silty clay with an average depth of 0.5m. The natural subsoil is light yellow to yellowish brown clayey sand to silty sand.

House

The main feature on Dunsinane 3 was a Neolithic rectangular house orientated roughly east to west and measuring approximately 14m by 7m north-south. It was constructed of four slot trenches which contained stone packing with evidence of post-holes and timber planking/burnt wood within the slots. It is likely that large oak trees were felled, then split and dressed to make the planks for the walls. The northern slot trench was 14.35m long and 0.64–2.64m wide; the southern slot trench was 14.8m long, 0.6-1.1m wide and 1m deep; the west slot trench was 5m long and 1m wide and the east slot trench was 5m long, 0.95m wide and 0.8m deep. The western slot trench was cut by a later post-hole, possibly a repair to the wall. There was no visible gap in the slot trenches to indicate the location of the door.

Two internal divisions were recorded at the western end of the house. They both consisted of long shallow slot trenches with shorter trenches perpendicular at their eastern ends. These internal divisions measured 2.1–2.23m long east-west, 0.22–0.42m wide and 0.06–0.14m deep. A rather large internal post-hole was located in close proximity to the internal division as were a series of small stake-holes. The internal divisions may have indicated designated areas for storage of goods or animals. The various stake-holes may have been internal support features while the post-hole may have acted as a minor roof support or a supportive feature for the west wall. The stake-holes within the internal divisions may have been for the erection of a screen in order to separate off the internal areas.

Three substantial features where recorded in the centre of the house. These included two post-holes and a hearth. It is highly probable that the two post-holes acted as internal supports for a roof thatched with reeds and grasses. The post-holes measured 0.72 x 0.52 x 0.65m and 0.84 x 0.6 x 0.7m. The hearth measured 0.87 x 0.56 x 0.06m and had nine small stake-holes within its base. It is possible that the stake-holes represent a spit-like structure over the hearth.

The eastern end of the house interior included domestic pits and deposits, a series of stake-holes and small and medium sized post-holes. The area appears to have been in use as the location of distinctly domestic activity. It is dominated by the evidence of burning and heat-affected clay allowing for the possibility of several hearths. The extensive burning activity and stake-holes may have been used as a cooking area where the stakes were again used as spits and as the burning activity evolved so did the position of the stakes. A large number of pits, post- and stake-holes were also recorded external to the house.

This Neolithic house is at the large end of the scale for these house types, and is likely to have been a two-storey dwelling with the ability to accommodate a large family unit of possibly up to 13 individuals.

External features

Approximately 4m to the north-east of the house was a second possible rectangular structure constructed of nine post-holes and a short possible slot trench. It was orientated north-east/south-west and measured approximately 5m by 4.5m. The post-holes were 0.2–0.3m in diameter and 0.17–0.43m deep with some containing packing stones and prehistoric pottery. It is possible that this was a structure related to storage or animal activity around the house.

Adjacent to this possible structure to the west and south were nine pits, the majority of which contained prehistoric pottery. One pit lying 6m to the north of the house measured 0.92 x 0.73 x 0.27m and contained 42 sherds of prehistoric pottery and a small flint flake. Adjacent to this pit was a circular pit that measured 0.66 x 0.6 x 0.33m and contained seven fills that produced seven sherds of prehistoric pottery, hazelnut shells and a large flint scraper. The concentration of pits and associated artefacts would suggest an area of domestic activity. This is borne out by the evidence for foodstuffs in the hazelnuts and possible food vessel sherds. The large flint scraper is also associated with, amongst other things, the preparation of animal hides.

Later activity

To the north-west of the house was a possible enclosure or structure consisting of a series of post- and stake-holes set out in a roughly oval pattern and encompassing an area measuring 10m north-south by 6m. The enclosure or structure was made up of two post-holes and 16 stake-holes with five pits with prehistoric pottery and metal slag recorded in association.

Located to the south-east of this possible enclosure or structure was a possible metal-working area. It consisted of three pits, one stake-hole and three possible furnaces. The three furnaces measured 0.87 x 0.65 x 0.08m, 0.48 x 0.48 x 0.21m and 0.65 x 0.52 x 0.1m and all contained remnants of metal slag.

A single cremation burial was found on site. It was contained in an oval pit that measured 0.7m by 0.6m and was 0.15m deep with vertical sides and a flat base. The primary fill consisted of a loose black silty sand with a moderate amount of cremated bones. Over this was a loose brown silty sand with occasional cremated bones and sub-angular stones.

Some of these external features were clearly not contemporary with the Neolithic house and it would appear that the site was occupied on more than one occasion.

TVAS (Ireland) Ltd, Ahish, Ballinruan, Crusheen, Co. Clare