Ecclesiastical enclosure in Corbetstown

The quadrantal form of Kilpatrick graveyard (WM020-049001-) boundary wall indicates the presence of an Early Christian ecclesiastical enclosure (Swan 1988, 20). Cropmark of early Christian enclosure visible on aerial photographs. Ecclesiastical enclosure (diam. 100m) was excavated by D.L. Swan between 1973 and 1980. The summary findings of the 1973 excavation were described as following; 'This site was first noted in the course of an aerial survey of enclosed ecclesiastical sites in the Meath-Westmeath area. Surrounding an isolated churchyard (WM020-049001-), and incorporating part of its enclosing wall, there appeared to be indications of a large enclosure ditch and bank. Excavations were undertaken to confirm the existence of these features. A well defined ditch was revealed, dug into the bedrock to a depth of about 3.00m under present ground level. The ditch was consistently between 5.00m and 6.00m wide at the top, was ‘U’ shaped in profile, and splayed widely close to the surface. In the south cutting the remains of a partly destroyed inner bank were revealed, and evidence for its having had a facing of large stones also emerged. The fill of the ditch in the excavated sectors was, for the most part, undifferentiated, and largely without stratification. Large quantities of animal bone were recovered from every level, together with a single sherd of glazed, l3th/l4th C. pottery, at a depth of 1 .40m. The enclosure, as shown by excavation so far, thus comprised a deep fosse with an internal bank, probably stone-faced, defining an oval area, which had a north-south axis estimated at 95.00m in length, and an east-west axis measuring 80.00m. At least four phases of activity can be distinguished apart from that associated with the cemetery, all indicative of normal, secular occupation, but it is difficult on present evidence to relate all of these to each other, or to establish a complete chronology. What seemed to be the earliest phase was represented by a series of features best interpreted as the surviving remnants of almost totally obliterated foundation trenches, having a shallow ‘U’ shaped section, with lines of stake-holes and post-holes. Associated with these were a number of hearths and pits, the latter yielding an amount of slag, charcoal, and other evidence of industrial activity. Elsewhere, from an area of apparently destroyed structure, five further fragments of medieval pottery were recovered, as well as a single sherd of French ware of the same period. Apart from this, the only other material recovered in significant quantities was animal bone, representing horse, cattle, sheep, pig, with some smaller domestic and wild animals' (excavations.ie). The 1980 excavations results were summarised as following; 'The complete line of the enclosure was recovered by means of a series of cuttings to the east and north, and by making extensive use of aerial photography to help determine where cuttings might be made. The site proved to be somewhat smaller than had originally been estimated, having a north! south diameter of just under 100m. At one point to the south-west, the remains of a well-constructed stone facing on the bank survived for up to) three courses of well-set and well-matched large stones. Elsewhere, this facing had been removed, the stones forming part of the fill of the ditch. In the south-west sector evidence for ridge and furrow cultivation as well as indications of a substantial rectangular structure and a stone-lined, corn-drying kiln were revealed. Among the artefacts recovered were numerous portions of brooch pins and ring pins, some small iron knives and other iron objects, pieces of worked bone and antler, some sherds of coarse ware pottery of a type already found on the site and another fragment of E ware. In addition, a portion of a tinned copper-alloy mount was found, about 5cm on length, 3cm in width, neatly rounded at the finished end, with three rivet holes unevenly set around the edge. The object is in remarkably fine condition and is richly decorated with a boldly incised design based on opposed peltae with trumpets and scrolls. A small cutting was opened within the churchyard to the north of the church ruins, revealing the foundation of the north wall. Although there were no surface indications, in it considerable concentration of human burial was encountered at less than 40cm below the surface. In all, in a cutting 2.5x5m over 40 individuals were represented, infants and young children accounting for 32 of these. Of the remaining adults and adolescents, where sex could be determined, time proportions of male to female were roughly equal. Almost all of these burials were stratified between a construction layer and a collapse layer relating to a reconstruction of the church and its final collapse. Beneath the construction layer a number of enigmatic features was encountered including a deep trench and part of a rectangular feature, both cutting deeply into the boulder clay. Some postholes were also identified, which may have related to the latter feature. A number of bone pins was recovered, together with three fragments of F ware, portion of a copper alloy strip and a tiny, but beautifully made, copper alloy bird set on a ribbed tang. This object is best paralleled by a somewhat similarly shaped object from the excavations at Whitby in Yorkshire. A second kiln of the ‘key-hole’ type was located within the western sector, which contained substantial deposits of grain and burned material. In this area too, a series of very large well-defined curving trenches with associated postholes up to 60cm+ in diameter was uncovered, indicating the presence here of a large structure, probably circular in shape. Towards the centre of this sector an area of much disturbance was opened, which yielded quantities of medieval pottery, together with a carefully concealed large iron key, probably the key of the 15th- or 16th-century church' (excavations.ie). Compiled and revised by: Caimin O’Brien Date of revised upload: 04 July 2019