2017:810 - Garrymore Ringfort, Cavan

An archaeological excavation of 33% of a ringfort at Garrymore (CV031-038) was undertaken in advance of the proposed N55 Realignment Scheme, Co. Cavan from December 2016 – February 2017. Monitoring at construction stage was also undertaken in 2018. Geophysical survey prior to excavation confirmed the univallate nature of the ringfort, which survived as a circular area with a diameter of 31.5m defined by a low bank with external ditch. The eastern part of the site was removed by the predecessor of the N55 at some time prior to the early 19th century, as shown on the 1st ed OS mapping. The remains of trees and modern material (plastic etc) were recovered from the ditch fills overlying intact archaeological layers. Garrymore Ringfort was located on higher ground in this drumlin landscape, with good views across land that is now under pasture. The current N55 road cut the eastern quarter of the ringfort and the current development will remove more of the eastern half of the ringfort. The excavated portion of the ringfort was wedge shaped, with the narrow end at the north and the wide end to the south. From the outer edges of the ditch it measured circa 50m in length and had a maximum width of 18m at the southern end and 3.5m at the northern end. Though disturbed in the last twenty years, the ringfort retained internal banks to the north and south. The external enclosing ditch was also present to the north and south and had been in-filled when the ringfort was levelled. Upon excavation, the ditches showed evidence of two re-cuts suggesting a continuation of use over a period of time. A charcoal sample recovered from the basal fill of the northern ditch was identified as 0.2g of hazel and returned a radiocarbon date of 1025 - 1160 (940 +/- 30 BP). The approximate width of the northern bank was 6m and the southern bank was 7m. The length of the exposed interior of the ringfort was circa 26m with a minimum width of 8m and a maximum width of 14.5m.
There were multiple archaeological features excavated within the interior of the ringfort including hearths, two possible structures, a figure-of-eight grain kiln, a figure-of-eight metallurgical kiln or pit, an oval kiln, a four-post drying rack or silo, multiple pits, post-holes and occupation layers. A charcoal sample from a substantial occupation layer in the southern part of the ringfort, contained 0.01g of ash, and returned a radiocarbon date of 1022 – 1155 AD (955 +/- 30 BP). There were pits, postholes and possible cremation pits under the banks suggesting previous activity at the site prior to the construction of the ringfort. The latter features pre-dated the construction of the ringfort and included a shallow circular pit that contained a round, flat copper alloy button with a loop shank at the back (Find No. 16E0168:83:01); a sub-circular fire pit and an oval shaped pit possibly used for storage. These features were exposed beneath the northern bank and another pit was cut into the bank. The ringfort bank to the south sealed earlier features including two possible cremation pits with five associated stake-holes, nine further stake-holes to the north and to the east, eight post-holes and two pits. A charcoal sample recovered from the fill of the possible cremation pit was identified as 0.5g of hazel and returned a radiocarbon date of 1188-923 BC (2865 +/- 35 BP), indicating the feature was Late Bronze Age in date.
The northern section of the ringfort interior contained the majority of features including two possible structures, a metallurgical kiln and a drying rack or silo. One structure consisted of a hearth beside what appeared to be a metalled surface to the east. A charcoal sample recovered from the hearth was identified as 1g of hazel and returned a radiocarbon date of 990 – 1154 AD (985 +/- 30). The metalled surface probably represents a floor surface or working area and was semi-circular in shape (within the limit of excavation). A spread of occupational material overlay part of the metalled surface, and a large posthole or small pit cut through it to the south. This posthole may be contemporary or slightly later in date than the surface (C228), that also sealed three underlying features including a pit (C230) and two stakeholes (C232 and C234).
The second structure consisted of a series of eight postholes enclosing a pit, which contained a copper alloy object (16E0168:114:01) and a central posthole. The structure was D-shaped in plan with maximum dimensions of 2.9m in length and 1.8m in width. Three additional postholes external to the structure to the east respected the curve of the structure and may be associated with it. The structure appears to be a light shelter or lean-to or wind break or screen.
A small figure-of-eight kiln was identified 5.4m to the southwest of the latter structure B and its fill contained frequent inclusions of charcoal and slag suggesting it was metallurgical in origin. Directly to the east of it, a possible structure comprising four postholes was exposed. This had dimensions of 2m x 1.5m, was a diamond in plan and was interpreted as a drying rack for cereal or other commodities.
The central part of the ringfort interior contained pits, postholes and stakeholes. The most significant features within this part of the site comprised two large kilns, a hearth or fire pit and pit. The kiln was roughly oval in plan resembling a figure-of-eight, with dimensions of 3.2m x 1.3m x 0.19m. The basal fill of the kiln was charcoal rich, and the northern part of the kiln floor was oxidized, indicating this was the location of the fire. A charcoal sample recovered from this fill was identified as 1g of alder and returned a radiocarbon date of 897- 1024 AD (1060 +/- 30). The second kiln was located 4.78m south west of C113 and was oval in plan with dimensions of 1.4m x 1.12m x 0.26m. It contained four fills, frequent charcoal inclusions, burnt stone and burnt bone. A hearth/fire pit was located 1.8m south west of kiln. It measured 1.1m length x 0.83m x 0.25m depth and contained oxidized clay with charcoal fragments and it sealed three stake holes. Adjacent to hearth at less than 0.4m to the south a pit with dimensions of 0.77m x 0.62m x 0.16m was exposed.
The archaeological monitoring undertaken in 2018 of the eastern section of the ringfort beneath the N55 road confirmed that ringfort entrance was located to the south-east. The ditch terminals were exposed and the causeway entrance between the ditches measured 2.60m wide at this point, and perhaps 3.5m in length before passing through the ringfort banks (not exposed). Two pits seemed to block easy access to the causeway crossing, however these pits did not seem to represent a structure, instead they represented transient activities that could have been walked over once the pits had been backfilled (the fills were mostly of stones). A third pit cut through the southern ditch terminal. The three pits contained hot stones and charcoal and may represent cooking pits.
Twenty-seven charcoal samples were analysed from this site and included oak, alder ash, hazel and willow. Four samples of animal bone were recovered, and all came from the fills within the southern ringfort ditch. They were identified as three horn cores and a tooth, all from cattle of unidentified sex. A total of 25 samples of cremated bone were recovered from a variety of features across the site. None of the bones could be identified but due to their locations within the site all bone was considered to be of animal origin. Seeds recovered from the site included cereal grains, mainly oat with lesser quantities of barley and a single grain of rye. Gathered foods included hazelnut shells evident in several samples and bramble and elder from a small number of samples. Arable weeds included common chickweed, mustard and dock.
Three samples of slag recovered from the southern ditch, the northern ditch and from a kiln were analysed. The material was indicative of possible ore-roasting and small-scale iron smithing activity in the area. However, given the lack of any associated metal-working features, it is unlikely that there was iron-working of any note at this site. The pottery assemblage contained four sherds of medieval pottery and ten sherds of post-medieval pottery and brick. The medieval pottery was Everted Rim Ware of the coarse pottery tradition widespread in Ulster from the 13th to the 17th century. Clay pipe finds consisted of three bowls with partial stems and five partial stems, all classified as basic 19th century ‘labourers pipes’ of local origin except for one imported English early 18th century example.
The site can be classified as the denuded remains of a ringfort settlement site dating from the 10th -12th centuries, with earlier activity dating to the late Bronze Age evident.

Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit, Unit 21 Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth