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TitleStartEndDescriptionWeb PageMediaMedia CaptionMedia CreditTagsPlaceLocationSourceSource URL
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Arundel Sq., Waterford 16E060112001499Excavations at Arundel Square, Waterford revealed Hiberno-Scandinavian, medieval and post-medieval archaeological remains. The deposits included wooden buildings, garden soil, midden and organic deposits. The samples contained some uncharred seeds and charred cereal grains and seeds. Preservation was exceptional in two rich deposits of charred cereal grains [C515 (S73) and C457 (S94)]. The charred cereals were primarily oats (including some cultivated and wild varieties). Other charred seeds included weeds that are commonly found growing amongst cereal crops. Many of the oat grains were recovered with chaff still intact, indicating that most processing of oat grains probably occurred in the city, perhaps on an ad hoc basis. Similar suggestions were made about results from other Waterford medieval sites (see Tierney and Hannon, 1997, p.890). The uncharred plant remains included food waste such as hazelnut shell fragments, sloe and cherry stones, raspberry/blackberry, wild strawberry and pear/apple pips. Although these samples have been dried out, the original contexts were characterised by anaerobic preservation of organic remains and the uncharred seeds in the samples likely represent archaeological seeds rather than modern inclusions. The remains represent common food remains found in anaerobic medieval urban deposits across northern Europe. Pending radiocarbon dating, these samples are presumed to be medieval in date.http://archive.pennyjohnston.org/cms/files/original/ba60cddaa7d8df3fc257820b040e2024.jpgAvena fatua type grain showing exceptional quality of preservation, with bristles/hairs on the grain visiblePhoto: J. SunderlandArundel Square, Waterford, Ireland52.15, -7.6
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Corbally 6 E004857688964The samples were taken during the excavation of a corn drying kiln at Corbally, Co. Wexford. All of the samples examined from this site (12 in total) contained charred seeds, with oat grains being the predominant type found. Weed seeds, from various types of knotgrass/dock plants and from small legumes, were common in most of the samples. These were probably weeds collected with the crop. Seeds from Nipplewort were also common, these are dispersed by wind and could either have been a weed in the field or could have been blown into the crop from plants growing the surrounding area. The seed composition was relatively homogenous in all the samples and it is likely that all of these samples are derived from the same firing of the kiln, rather than being a mix of multiple crops fired in the kiln over an extended period. Pending radiocarbon dating, these are presumed to be medieval in date.https://excavations.ie/report/2017/Wexford/0026196/http://archive.pennyjohnston.org/cms/files/original/3b07f01cd01f20be9900a619021ed69a.jpgCereal content in samples from kiln C11Penny Johnston Corbally52.510696, -6.5107638 Johnston, Penny (2018): Plant remains from Corbally 6 Wexford E4857.csv. figshare. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.6340316.v1
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Ballyorril 4 (E004833)9011023Archaeobotanical analysis of samples from Ballyorril 4, Co. Wexford (taken during the excavation of various archaeological features that were spread over four areas, including burnt mound activity, pits, stakeholes, postholes, ditches, a charcoal production pit and a hearth or kiln). A total of nine samples were examined but just three contained charred seeds. Most of these samples were taken from activity that was probably associated with the burnt mounds (and likely prehistoric). The remains were generally not identifiable to species. However, in one sample (from a pit fill, C82), a well-preserved specimen of a small acorn cup was found. Radiocarobn results suggested that this sample was dated to the medieval period. This was probably an incidental inclusion, perhaps attached to some oak twigs that were collected as fuel.https://excavations.ie/report/2017/Wexford/0026066/ Ballyorril52.535335, -6.5676611
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Ballycarrigeen Lower 11(E004856)-2286-797The site at Ballycarrigeen Lower 11 comprised two areas of burnt mound activity, dating roughly to the Bronze Age. As is common in samples from burnt mound sites, the samples did not contain many charred seeds. Just one sample from a total of eleven contained charred seeds. This was identified as a poorly preserved fruit stone, likely from a haw berry. It is possible that this was accidentally collected and burnt with the wood that was used for fuel at the site.https://excavations.ie/report/2017/Wexford/0026197/Ballycarrigeen Lower52.566876, -6.4460770
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Rockspring 2-2462-806The site at Rockspring 2, Co. Wexford comprised two areas of burnt mound material, presumed to be Bronze Age, pending radiocarbon dating. The four samples examined were all from with activity associated with burnt mounds, with two samples taken from trough fills, a third from a fill within a possible trough, and the fourth and final sample taken from a spread of burnt material. However, in common with many deposits from burnt mounds, there were no charred seeds recovered in these samples.https://excavations.ie/report/2017/Wexford/0026065/Rockspring52.581936, -6.4211459
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Laughanstown and Brennanstown 15E04718831039The plant-rich samples from this series of excavations were taken from Area 2, where a charcoal clamp, pits, an irregular spread and a possible sub-circular structure were found. The cereal assemblage comprised mostly barley and oat grains, with much
smaller quantities of wheat (possible free-threshing wheat) found. There
were also very small amounts of rye, in quantities that suggest that
its inclusion was incidental. Two radiocarbon dates from grains indicated activity from the 9th to the 11th centuries.		https://excavations.ie/report/2015/Dublin/0024879/http://archive.pennyjohnston.org/cms/files/original/1411a448a587d4843173fd9691656a4e.jpgCereal counts in the richest samples from 15E0471PJLaughanstown53.242308, -6.1463452Johnston, Penny (2018): 15E0471 Laughanstown and Brenanstown plant id.csv. figshare. Dataset.https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.7035524.v1
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Ticknick Park 15E04697781021Two samples were examined from a site at Ticknick Park (15E0469). The first, from a cremation deposit, included a small amount of plant items such as a cereal grain and a possible tuber. The second sample was taken from the fill of a linear feature that is likely to be associated with medieval field systems. The plant remains included oat and barley grains. A radiocarbon date of cal AD 778 – 1021 (UBA-38760, 2 sigma calibration) from cereal grain in the sample
indicates early medieval activity. The absence of wheat in the sample is notable. It differentiates this assemblage from other early medieval assemblages from sites excavated nearby.		https://excavations.ie/report/2015/Dublin/0025022/http://archive.pennyjohnston.org/cms/files/original/15f00f49c7bb8e85270eac983e2b3ea8.pngSeed counts in the richest sample from 15E0469PJTicknick53.236865, -6.1644189Johnston, Penny (2018): 15E0469 Ticknick Park plant id.csv. figshare. Dataset.https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.7035527.v1
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Castlebaggot 17E0394
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Cloghanumera 1 (16E0158)-2000-1000Analysis of samples from the possible prehistoric settlement site at Cloghanumera 1 identified non-wood plant macro-remains such as weed seeds, cereal grains and chaff. These were found in pit fills and in a hearth deposit. Weed seeds were the most common items retrieved. It is possible that they were crop processing by-products, separated from a cache of grain when it was prepared for consumption and subsequently burnt. Similar (but larger) assemblages of charred weed seeds have been interpreted as signs of a subsistence economy where the grain crop was prepared in a piecemeal fashion and where the crop-processing by-products were scattered and gradually incorporated into deposits across the site. (NB Dates are approximate pending radiocarbon results.)http://pennyjohnston.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/BA-plant-remains-Westmeath.pngBronze Age plant remains assemblages from Co. WestmeathPJCloghanumera53.552256, -7.245076Johnston, Penny (2019): Cloghanumera 1 carbonised plant remains dataset. figshare. Dataset.https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.7654685.v1
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Killynan 2 (16E0160)5001500Analysis of samples from the possible medieval site at Killynan 2 identified a small assemblage of non-wood plant macro-remains which included barley and other cereal grains (not identifiable to type) and a small quantity of weed seeds. The small size of the plant remains assemblage was similar to other early medieval sites in Westmeath. (NB. Dates are approximate pending radiocarbon results.) http://pennyjohnston.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/westmeath-early-med.pngComparative plant remains analysis from Westmeath early medieval sitesPJKillynan53.5328673049, -7.232527357Johnston, Penny (2019): Killynan 2 carbonised plant remains dataset. figshare. Dataset.https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.7654691.v1
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Killynan 3 (16E0161)-2500-500Analysis of samples from a site at Killynan 3, Co. Westmeath identified non-wood plant macro-remains including a small quantity of cereal grains (barley in particular) and some weed seeds. This assemblage is so small it is difficult to interpret and the types of plant remains that were found could date to any period since the introduction of agriculture. Radiocarbon dates are pending.KillynanJohnston, Penny (2019): Carbonised plant remains dataset Killynan 3. figshare. Dataset.https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.7654694.v1
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Killynan 4
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Portrane (17E0377)
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Knockdomny (02E0414)
-1527-1303A total of seven samples were taken during excavations of a Middle Bronze Age round house at Knockdomny, Co. Westmeath. Plant remains were sparse, with one grain of wheat, four grains of oat, three grains of indeterminate cereals and one indeterminate weed seed recovered. Oat grains are an unusual find in MBA samples since, although they are sometimes found at prehsitoric sites they tend to be more common in the medieval period. An anomalous medieval radiocarbon date from Knockdomny could suggest that these are later contamination of the earlier deposits. In other respects, the relative sparsity of the plant remains recovered from Knockdomny is in-keeping with evidence from several other round house sites, particularly those dating to before the LBA.
https://excavations.ie/report/2002/Westmeath/0009202/
Knockdomny53.406192, -7.745700
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Williamstown IV (02E0362)-1130-890Samples associated with cremated bone from Williamstown, Co. Westmeath contained relatively high quantities of cereal grains, barley in particular. This is one of the most common cereals found in archaeobotanical samples from the Irish Bronze Age. There is a growing corpus of evidence to suggest that the deposition of food remains with cremated bone was relatively commonplace and possibly deliberatehttps://excavations.ie/report/2002/Westmeath/0009225/Williamstown53.580452, -7.151041
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Gneevebeg (02E0479)8901630Several of the deposits associated with kilns and pits excavated at Gneevebeg contained carbonised plant remains. These are probably associated with intensive activity after the harvest when grain was prepared for storage and consumption. The scattering of charred plant debris found in deposits across the site indicates that activity associated with crops was widespread. The discovery of kilns associated with burial grounds has parallels with other sites,including Corbally, Co. Kildare, Cherrywood, Co. Dublin and Johnstown, Co. Louth. The plant remains are predominantly from cereal grains, and most of these were obtained from the kilns and associated pits. They included wheat, oat, barley and a few grains of rye.https://excavations.ie/report/2002/Westmeath/0009182/Gneevebeg53.417438, -7.508935
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Grange (02E0465)-1424-1220The samples from Grange A, a roasting pit and associated deposits, contained small quantities of charred seeds. The nearby cremation deposits at Grange B contained no charred plant remains. The proximity of the two sites and the similarity of the deposits suggests that the roasting pits at Grange A may be associated with the burials at Grange B. The plant remains from Grange A included hazelnut shell fragments and cereal grains. The cereal grains were predominantly barley, but some wheat was found in some samples. The majority of the cereal grains, however, could not be identified to type, and were classified as indeterminate cereal grains.https://excavations.ie/report/2002/Westmeath/0009184/Grange53.589679, -7.485601
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Dalystown (02E0679)-930-800Several bulk soil samples were taken from a ring barrow at Dalystown/Clonfad. A number of pits were located within the ring ditch as well as a cluster of cremation pits to the southeast of it. Additional pits, thought to be later in date than the barrow, were located to the north and east of the ring ditch. Cereal remains dominated the charred plant remains from this site but they were frequently unidentifiable as the quality of preservation in the sample was not very good. Only a few barley grains were identifiable to type. Other plant remains included a couple of charred fragments of nut shell/fruit stone and possible hazelnut shell, cereal grain fragments, and one dock family seed from Redshank/Pale persicaria.https://excavations.ie/report/2002/Westmeath/0009172/Dalystown53.437112, -7.382539
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Whitewell (02E0954)-2840-2340Nine samples were examined from the excavation of a Late Neolithic (Grooved Ware) post circle at Whitewell, Co Westmeath. The only plant remains found were fragments of hazelnut shells. These were all recovered from the entrance porch. https://excavations.ie/report/2002/Westmeath/0009221/Whitewell53.446144, -7.327881
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Aghamore (02E0869)649671A total of thirty-nine samples were analysed from the excavation of a medieval iron-working site at Aghamore, Co. Westmeath. Charred plant remains were present in just of the 5 samples, including one charred hulled barley grain and one charred oat grain and a small quantity of charred weed seeds.https://excavations.ie/report/2002/Westmeath/0009141/Aghamore53.466469, -7.078824
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Monganstown (E2771)-3381026
This report describes the plant remains retrieved from charcoal production pits and metalworking pits excavated at Monganstown, Co. Westmeath. Non-charcoal plant remains were not common: four samples contained hazelnut shell fragments, one had the remains of an indeterminate fruit stone and an indeterminate seed was also found.
http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2771-monganstown-co-westmeath/Monganstown53.448956, -7.127774
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Kiltotan Collinstown 14 (E2770)8991611Two samples from Kiltotan Collinstown, Co. Westmeath (both from furnace fills) contained the remains of charred plants, in particular cereal grains such as oats and possibly wheat. These residues may indicate that crop processing by-products were used as tinder when lighting the furnaces.http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2770-kiltotan-collinstown-14-co-westmeath/Kiltotan 53.455246, -7.325052
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Nangor (00E0754)12001299Samples taken during the excavation of a complex of intercutting medieval ditches and gullies at Nangor contained large quantities of plant remains, mostly wheat (50% of identifiable grains), oat (37%) and barley (13%). Rye was found in very small quantities (<1%). Finds, including a complete iron sickle and 1500 sherds of medieval Dublin-type wares and Leinster cooking ware suggest a late medieval date, specifically dating to the 13th century.https://excavations.ie/report/2000/Dublin/0005049/http://archive.pennyjohnston.org/cms/files/original/b8d69b5efbb2d8ece895347b923b0478.pngPie-chart showing the percentage cereal composition (identifiable grains)Nangor53.325705, -6.447885
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Grange Castle (13E0459)5001500Analysis of samples from a small series of hearth and pit fills excavated at Grange Castle found moderate quantities of non-wood plant macro-remains, including cereal grains and weed seeds. Cereal grains were the most common items retrieved, and although the count of identifiable cereal grains was quite low (only 3 samples contained more than 30 grains) the evidence suggested that the numbers of grains present were originally much higher; since the samples also contained the fragmented remains of poorly preserved grains that could not be identified or quantified (because of the absence of diagnostic parts of the grain). The overall assemblage was characterised by small quantities of wheat and oat, and a much larger proportion of barley (mostly hulled barley), similar to assemblages typically found in Irish early medieval deposits.https://excavations.ie/report/2016/Dublin/0025749/http://archive.pennyjohnston.org/cms/files/original/e0cab79b04d7a4430c49afb786e3cced.pngSeeds in the richest samples from Grange Castle 13E0459Grange Castle53.327492, -6.446268Johnston, Penny (2019): Charred plant remains 13E0459 Grange Castle. figshare. Dataset.https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.7907180.v1
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