부산대학교 도서관

This is a final report of an archaeological excavation at Sheephouse 2 (00E0810) which was located on the route of the M1 Northern Motorway Gormanston – Monasterboice (Drogheda Bypass), Platin to Oldbridge, Chainage 21600–24800, Contract 7, County Meath. The excavation was carried out by Declan Moore of Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd on behalf of Meath County Council. The work was carried out under licence No. 00E0810 which was received from the DoEHLG in consultation with the National Museum of Ireland. The fieldwork took place between 14 May and 22 June 2001. Sheephouse 2 was identified as a result of archaeological assessment undertaken in 2000 (Valerie J. Keeley 2003; Licence No. 00E282). The excavation area measured c. 2700m². Archaeological activity at the site was divided into five main phases, ranging from early Neolithic to early medieval, although the majority of the activity on the site belonged to the early medieval phases. Early Neolithic activity at the site (Phase 1) consisted of a slot trench, 19 postholes and a hearth and may have formed part of a structure. Radiocarbon dating of two samples from the slot trench and a posthole returned 2 sigma calibrated date ranges of 3950–3700 BC and 3920–3660 BC respectively and finds recovered from these features included sherds from a number of early Neolithic carinated bowls. Phase 2 comprised a small circular ring-ditch (Enclosure A: C377) interpreted as dating to either the late Neolithic/early Bronze Age or to the Iron Age. It measured 4.2m in external diameter and was truncated by a cereal drying kiln which returned a 2 sigma date range of AD 430–640, providing a terminus ante quem for the ditch. Finds recovered from the ditch fill included rubbing stones and a burnt saddle quern fragment all of which are interpreted as being late Neolithic/early Bronze Age in date. The Iron Age activity on the site (Phase 3) comprised a hearth (360–90 BC) and five postholes which may represent the remains of a structure with a central hearth. Phase 4 was the earliest phase of early medieval activity on the site and comprised two figure of eight shaped cereal drying kilns. One of the kilns contained carbonised barley with a smaller quantity of oat and was dated to AD 430–640. Phase 5 was the second phase of early medieval activity on the site and comprised a small sub-oval enclosure (Enclosure B) dated to AD 670–870 and AD 660–860, a large circular enclosure (Enclosure C) dated to AD 690–890 and AD 770–970, a large sub-square enclosure (Enclosure D) and a smaller sub-square enclosure (Enclosure E). Three large cereal drying kilns; C14 and C108/C315 also belonged to this phase. Cereal remains from these kilns were identified as predominantly oat along with smaller quantities of barley. Dates from each of these kilns were calibrated to AD 770–970. Sheephouse 2 comprised part of a large early medieval enclosure and ancillary field systems. The site extends beyond the wayleave of the development boundary to the west where the remainder remains in situ. The main focus of activity at Sheephouse 2 was dated to the early medieval period between the mid seventh and the mid 10th centuries and is an important addition to our knowledge of settlement in this area during the early medieval period.