Metalworking site in Brittas

Above the earliest sampled crannog occupation (ME005-088008-) a path (L c. 2.7m) consisting of planks laid transversely on two runners placed 0.9m apart approaches the mound from the N at the NE edge, probably from a jetty during Phase X. It leads to an occupation platform laid on a peat base, but a palisade retaining this peat base has not been identified. A re-used plank from the path produced a dendrochronological felling-date of c. 625 AD. This level consisted of a round hut (ME005-088010-) with a metalworking area (ME005-088011-) to the W and another to the NE of the hut, between it and the path. The working area to the NE consisted of a charcoal spread (dims 4.2m x 4m; max. T 0.06m), and two pits. Artefacts recovered included a poorly fired, coil-built pottery vessel, pieces of baked clay, crucible and mould fragments, and three motif-pieces. (Bradley 1985-6, 83-5; 1990-1, 23-6; 1991, 18-22; O’Sullivan 1998, 106-07) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 6 September 2018