Outlined — Knockaville

Originally located on the SSE shoreline of a small lake known as ‘Lough Atrim’ as depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map. A possible moated site (WM027-030001-) lies c. 20m to SE. The lake was drained about 1878, exposing this mound near the centre known as ‘The Island’. This crannóg was recorded by the antiquarian Rev. William Falkiner in 1898, after it had been partially damaged by excavation to produce top-soil to spread over the old lakebed. The site apparently had a 'low, circular mound, 22ft [6.7m]in diameter’, surrounded by, and studded over with black oak piles’. A ‘rough floor of beams’ was exposed at a depth of 4ft [1.2m]. It was possibly enclosed within a plank palisade or stockade of ‘rough hewn planks, standing close together. These planks were ‘9ft [2.7m] long, 10 inches [0.25m] wide and 3 inches [0.07m] thick’. A possible midden of ‘a great quantity of ashes, burnt wood and bones’ was found near the ‘outer portion of the stockade’. Lying on the ground was ‘a quantity of bones, amongst others, those of wild swine - red deer and oxen’ as well as ‘several boar’s jaws with large tusks still remaining. Also the horns of the ancient crumpled-horned ox.’ Artefacts found on the mound included 2 ‘horn’ combs, a comb fragment, 2 bone pins, a possible ‘tracked stone’, a hammer-stone, 2 bronze pins, 1 iron object (a possible ‘hold fast’), 1 amber ring fragment and 1 wooden ladle' (O'Sullivan 2004, 59-60; Falkiner 1898-1900, 216-8). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Aidan O'Sullivan. Date of upload: 6 March 2017