Habitation site in Clonfinlough

A settlement (L 50m; Wth 40m) situated between Finlough and Blackwater bog. It consisted of two house platforms, each 9m in maximum diameter, a hut platform and a working platform partially enclosed by a palisade of ash posts. The houses were large structures, built up from the surface of the bog with a boxed wattle substructure, timber and stone floors, doubled wattle walls and porch entrances. The palisade enclosed an oval area 50m by 40m. It consisted of a single line of ash posts. Finds included several flat-bottomed coarse ware pots, amber beads, saddle querns and rubbing stones, a stone adze, a possible churn piece, several enigmatic grooved timbers, wicker baskets and the damaged remains of a pair of large perforated paddles. The site was dated to 908±9 BC or later (Q8225) with a repair to one of the house platforms at 886 BC (Q8496). Excavated by the I.A.W.U. in 1990 and 1991. (Irish Archaeological Wetland Unit (UCD) 1993) Compiled by: Irish Archaeological Wetland Unit (University College Dublin). Date of upload: 23 May 2011