House — indeterminate date in Cush

In rough pasture, in S quadrant of archaeological complex (LI048-034006/042-) located on the 'Supposed Site of Temaír Erann', which was the ancient cemetery of the Ernai tribe on Slievereagh (Sliabh Riabhach) (Westropp 1919, 9; Westropp 1917-19, 179; Westropp 1918, 111). House site b in SE quadrant of rectangular enclosure (LI048-034042-) excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 115-18) who described his results as follows; 'The area which we have termed the Enclosure [LI048-034042-) is that part of the Southern Group which has on three sides of it a bank and fosse, and on the fourth side the group of conjoined ring-forts (LI048-034027/028-/016-). The northern and western sides of the Enclosure are defended by a slight outer bank in addition to the fosse and inner bank. In the investigation of the interior we stripped several comparatively large areas and made trial cuttings elsewhere, as, of course, it was not feasible to attempt the investigation of the whole of such a large area. ‘House b’ [LI048-034046-] - The construction of this house was totally different from that of any other of the houses found. It consisted of an approximately rectangular area (about 23 feet [7m] in length by slightly over 10 feet [3m] in breadth) sunk to a depth of about 3 feet [0.9m] in the ground and stone-walled around most of its perimeter. The southern half of the floor of this area was paved with large flat stones, the northern portion was unpaved. Four post-holes were found in the floor; three of these (A), (B) and (C) were situate along the middle line of the floor and one (D) near the middle of the southern side. The central post-hole (A) was square (about 5 inch [0.12m] side) and 17 inches [0.43m] deep. The holes (A) and (C) were smaller only 3 inches [0.07m] in diameter and depths 7 inches [0.17m] and 14 inches [0.35m] respectively. These three post-holes probably held the supports for the roof-tree of the structure, which gives us a clue of the type of house. The lower portions of the walls were stone-built and backed against the undisturbed clay, as found by excavation. Above this level no remains of walls were found and, unless the roof sprang directly from the stone portion, the upper parts of the walls were presumably either of organic material or of turf. Resting on these walls were, we may suppose, the two sloping portions of the roof which came together on a roof-tree running along the length of the house from east to west. There were several features of this house which are not easy of explanation. On the eastern side it had been built into a silted-up fosse - the one already referred to as running from the western side of Ring 1 to the fosse of the Enclosure. At the south-east corner the walls of the house tailed off into this fosse for a distance of five feet. This narrow passage may have served as an approach to the house or as an addition to it. The western end of the house was incomplete, the walls coming round in arcs at the corners - but leaving a gap of 4 feet [1.2m] between the ends. There was no indication that this wall had at any time been complete, and in connection with this it is notable that immediately outside this gap the ground had been cut to a broad shallow trench, about 2 feet [0.6m] in depth, which led into an irregular silted-up hollow in the boulder clay. The purpose of this hollow is not at all clear - nor in conjunction with a hollow in such a position is that of the house itself. During the excavation there was a continuous stream of water running down the middle of the house floor and filling this hollow to the west of it. The thought easily suggested itself that this hollow was suitable for bathing and that a connected house would fill a role as an accessory of a bath. It seems too daring, however, to postulate, on the available evidence, that this was the purpose it served in ancient times'. See attached plans and photograph of excavated house taken from Ó Ríordáin 1940. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 29 December 2021