THE MEDIEVAL BRAY PROJECT EXCAVATIONS AT ......2020/08/17 · EXCAVATIONS AT RAHEENACLUIG CHURCH NEWCOURT, BRAY, CO. WICKLOW (WI008-004, NAT. MON. 262) FINAL REPORT LICENCE REF.:

THE MEDIEVAL BRAY PROJECT

EXCAVATIONS AT

RAHEENACLUIG CHURCH NEWCOURT, BRAY, CO. WICKLOW

(WI008-004, NAT. MON. 262)

FINAL REPORT

LICENCE REF.: 17E0356

CONSENT REF.: C000881/R000483

DAVID MCILREAVY BA MA MA MIAI

JANUARY 2021

The Medieval Bray Project Final Report Raheenacluig Church, Newcourt, Bray


ABSTRACT

This final excavation report details the community-led research excavation conducted by

members of The Medieval Bray Project during Heritage Week 2017 and 2018. Both

seasons of excavation were carried out at Raheenacluig Church (WI008-004, Nat. Mon.

262) in Newcourt, Bray, Co. Wicklow.

The excavation was directed by David McIlreavy under Ministerial Consent C00081, and

Excavation Licence 17E0356, as granted by the National Monument Services of the

Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in consultation with the National

Museum of Ireland. The results of both seasons were recently summarised and presented

within their wider archaeological context at a one-day symposium ‘Raheen na Cluig’ held

at the Cornerstone Church at the Well, Bray, on 17th November 2018.

Three cuttings were excavated over the course of two excavation seasons. Cutting 1 was

positioned to investigate areas identified during geophysical survey (Licence No.

17R0017), consisting of a curvilinear feature and high resistance features to the northeast

of the church building. Cutting 2 was positioned to investigate the surface that the church

building had been constructed upon. Cutting 3 was positioned to investigate the area of

rising ground to the immediate northwest of the church building. Due to heavy scrub and

undergrowth, it had not been possible to investigate this area during the geophysical survey

conducted under Licence No. 17R0017.

Excavation of Cutting 1 revealed that the area northeast of the church building had been

subjected to a significant amount of disturbance. Artefacts recovered from the topsoil

ranged from prehistoric lithics to 20th century AD transfer and glazed wares. A levelling

deposit directly underlying the topsoil layer was recorded to contain a range of material

dating from at least the 16th century to the 20th century AD. This material consisted of

mainly of ceramic, but artefacts such as ferrous structural, floorboard, and furniture nails

were also recovered. Underlying the levelling deposit, the heavily truncated remains of a

ditch terminus, and possible building floor, were identified. Both these features were

considered to correspond with the geophysical signatures noted above. No artefacts were

recovered from either the ditch or building floor feature.

Excavation of Cutting 2 revealed that the area immediately surrounding the northwest

corner of the church building had been subjected to a significant amount of disturbance.

This disturbance was recorded as a deposit of stone, deliberately packed around the base


of the church building. A George V silver shilling (dated AD 1936) was recovered from the

deposit. It is considered that the disturbance was associated with stabilisation works

conducted by the Office of Public Works during this period.

Excavation of Cutting 3 confirmed that the rising ground to the immediate northwest of the

church building represented the partially preserved profile of the original hill feature. The

highest point of this hill feature would appear to have been artificially scarped, with

evidence for a truncated ditch feature. The fill of the ditch contained elements of marine

shell, terrestrial animal bone and fragments of charcoal. It is considered that the ditch

feature is the ‘Raheen’ in the place name Raheenacluig.

The excavations at Raheenacluig confirmed the existence of previously unrecorded

structural elements in close proximity to the church building. These include the heavily

truncated remains of two ditch features which may represent the remains of an early

medieval ecclesiastical enclosure, and previously unrecorded 17th century activity at the

site.

A sample of charcoal submitted from the fill of the truncated ditch feature in Cutting 3

returned a radiocarbon date of c. AD 1447–1620 (UBA-43591), with the 2 sigma

probability suggesting a median date of AD1478. The artefactual assemblage recovered

from Cuttings 1 and 2 may be largely considered ex-situ, however, they do represent an

important window into prehistoric and post-medieval activity in the immediate vicinity of

the excavation site at Raheenacluig.

In addition to the excavations, a piece of previously unrecorded worked, but heavily

weathered, structural stone was recorded in the northern long wall rebuild. This artefact

was recorded and a drawing of the feature is included as Figure 8 in this report.

Morphologically the stone is considered to be a further piece of possible 12th century

stonework incorporated in the later church building.


CONTENTS

ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... 3

CONTENTS ....................................................................................................................... 5

LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................... 6

LIST OF PHOTOGRAPHS ............................................................................................. 6

1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 1

1.1 PROJECT DESCRIPTION .................................................................................. 1

1.2 SITE CONTEXT .................................................................................................. 8

1.3 GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY ................................................................................... 9

2 ARCHAEOLOGICAL & HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ........................................... 10

3 EXCAVATION METHODOLOGY ............................................................................. 13

4 EXCAVATION RESULTS ......................................................................................... 14

4.1 CUTTING 1 ....................................................................................................... 14

4.2 CUTTING 2 ....................................................................................................... 15

4.3 CUTTING 3 ....................................................................................................... 16

5 DISCUSSION ............................................................................................................ 17

6 CONCLUSIONS ....................................................................................................... 21

7 REFERENCES ......................................................................................................... 22

PLATES ........................................................................................................................... 23

APPENDIX 1 EXCAVATION ARCHIVE ........................................................................... 34

APPENDIX 1.1 CONTEXT REGISTER ........................................................................ 34

APPENDIX 1.2 ARTEFACT REGISTER ...................................................................... 36

APPENDIX 1.3 SAMPLE REGISTER .......................................................................... 42

APPENDIX 1.4 PHOTOGRAPH REGISTER ................................................................ 42

APPENDIX 1.5 DRAWING REGISTER ........................................................................ 44

APPENDIX 2 SMALL FINDS REPORT BY SIOBHÁN SCULLY ..................................... 45

APPENDIX 3 LITHICS REPORT BY SHANE DELANEY ................................................ 62

APPENDIX 4 ANIMAL BONE REPORT BY MARGARET MCCARTHY .......................... 64

APPENDIX 5 RADIOCARBON DATING BY 14CHRONO CENTRE ................................. 65

FIGURES


LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1 Site Location

Figure 2 Historic OS mapping (1838 and 1909) and Google Earth (May 2017) imagery

of site

Figure 3 Location of Cutting 1 and 2; Inset showing results of geophysical

survey Figure 4 Plan and Section of Cutting 1

Figure 5 Plan and Section Cutting 2

Figure 6 Plan of Cutting 3

Figure 7 Section of Cutting 3

Figure 8 Illustration of worked stone in door ope of church

LIST OF PHOTOGRAPHS

Plate 1 Leaflet advertising ‘Raheen na Cluig’ symposium, 17th November

2018

Plate 2 Earth resistance geophysical survey in progress, Bray town in

background

(photo: S Curran)

Plate 3 Raheenacluig Church, extant remains, facing west

Plate 4 Possible 12th century window surround, southeast interior face of

church

Plate 5 Survey photo of northeast face of church, facing south

Plate 6 View from Raheenacluig church over Killiney Bay, facing

northwest

Plate 7 Location of Cutting 1 prior to excavation, facing northeast

Plate 8 Cutting 1, after exposure of C4, facing southwest

Plate 9 Cutting 1, exposure of C11, facing east southeast

Plate 10 Cutting 1, sondage excavated underlying C11, facing southwest

Plate 11 Cutting 1, partial excavation of C7 with C13 extending to left, facing

east

Plate 12 Cutting 1, excavation of section within C10 ditch, facing west

southwest

Plate 13 Location of Cutting 2, prior to excavation, facing southeast

Plate 14 Cutting 2, C5 mid excavation facing southeast


Plate 15 Cutting 2, exposure of C8 deposit showing tree roots, facing

southwest

Plate 16 Cutting 2, section excavated into C9, facing southeast

Plate 17 Cutting 3, clearance of vegetation outside church building, facing

south

Plate 18 Cutting 3, exposure of C16 gravel rich layer, facing northeast

Plate 19 Cutting 3, post excavation of ditch C19, facing southeast


1 INTRODUCTION

The following report describes the results of research excavations carried out by members of

The Medieval Bray Project during Heritage Week 2017 and 2018; 19th to 25th August 2017 and

18th to 24th August 2018.

The excavations were directed by David McIlreavy under Ministerial Consent C00081, and

Excavation Licence 17E0356, as granted by the National Monument Services of the

Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in consultation with the National Museum.

The results of both seasons were recently summarised and presented within their wider

archaeological context at a one-day symposium ‘Raheen na Cluig’ held at the Cornerstone

Church at the Well, Bray, on 17th November 2018 (Plate 1).

1.1 PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The Medieval Bray Project is a not-for-profit research initiative dedicated to the exploration

and dissemination of the archaeology and history of the medieval manor of Bray AD 1173–

1666. This period represents that from the grant of lands to Walter de Ridelesford in 1173 AD

to the final dismemberment of the manor in 1666 AD. The project adopts a holistic approach

to its exploration of the medieval manor, using archaeological, historical and social

geographical research techniques. The excavations at Raheenacluig (Plate 2) were inspired

by two research avenues.

1) Indications of associated, but unrecorded, settlement close to the extant church building.

This was suggested by documentary evidence which revealed that Raheenacluig was part of

the possessions of the Friary of the Augustinian Hermits (Bradley et al 2009, 202-249). The

AD 16th extent notes five ‘messuages’ associated with the estate. In addition, Eugene O’Curry

in the Ordnance Survey (AD 1838) describes -

“the sites of two smaller buildings, close together, may be traced near [the church] on the

east side, with a nearly choked trench running north and south between them and the

church. The whole appears to have been enclosed by a moate, parts of which remain on

the east and northwest…” (Davies 2007, 24),.

That the structures noted by O’Curry were not included in subsequent OS mapping (Figure 2)

prompted volunteers from The Medieval Bray Project to conduct a geophysical survey of the


surrounding area. This survey was directed by Susan Curran under Licence 17R0017

(Plate 3).

Interpretation of the geophysical survey highlighted two features of archaeological

potential which corresponded to O’Curry’s description. These features included an area

of high resistivity and a curvilinear feature, marked as ‘?O’Curry’ (Figure 3, Inset). Cutting

1 was positioned to investigate these geophysical features.

Cutting 3 was positioned to investigate the area of undergrown immediately to the south of

the church building. Geophysical survey of this area had proved impossible, and so an

investigative trench was considered warranted to inform on the archaeological potential of

this area.

2) Questions over the possible date of construction for the church building.

Professor Tadhg O’Keeffe (pers. comm.) had suggested that although the majority of the

masonry appeared to be of later medieval date, the window stonework may be considered

12th century in style (Plate 4).

Examination of the northern wall rebuild revealed a heavily weathered stone piece which

was considered morphically similar to the 12th century pieces noted above. The location

of the stone was noted and a drawing is attached to this report as Figure 8.

In addition, a building survey conducted by members of The Medieval Bray Project

revealed that the lowest masonry level on the exterior of the church appeared markedly

different to upper levels (Plate 5). Cutting 2 was positioned to investigate the nature of the

lowest visible masonry courses, and to determine the surface that the church building was

constructed upon.

1.2 SITE CONTEXT

The 2017 excavation was carried out in the immediate vicinity of Raheenacluig Church

(WI008-004, Nat. Mon. 262) on a north-facing field at the foot of Bray Head (Figure 1).

The site is located c. 1km southeast of Bray Town within the townland of Newcourt, in the

half Barony of Rathdown and County of Wicklow. The grounds were formerly included

within a council golf course development during the 1980s. There are extensive views to

the northwest, north and northeast overlooking Bray Town, Killiney Bay and the

surrounding hinterland (Plate 6). The location of the excavation Cuttings 1 and 2 was

informed by a geophysical and physical survey carried out by volunteers in 2017 (See


Section 1.3).

1.3 GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY

The excavation followed on from a geophysical survey of the land surrounding

Raheenacluig Church. The survey was carried out by The Medieval Bray Project

volunteers in February and March 2017 and covered an area of 12,500 m² (Figure 2; Inset).

The survey was Susan Curran under licence 17R0017 (Curran 2017). A report on results

from the geophysical survey was submitted to the National Monuments Service in June

2017.

The survey revealed that while the site has been significantly disturbed by modern ground

works, there were some areas of archaeological potential.

Specifically, a curvilinear feature and high resistance within the immediate northeast of

the church building were considered to represent the features described by O’Curry. A

number of other signatures of archaeological potential also identified in the immediate

area (Figure 3; Inset), although these were not selected for investigation at this time.


2 ARCHAEOLOGICAL & HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The upstanding remains of Raheenacluig Church (WI008-004, Nat. Mon. 262) are situated on

the lower north facing slope of Bray Head, in the townland of Newcourt. In addition to the

church, the SMR record notes the presence of an enclosure (WI008-004001), however no

indication of this feature is current visible on the ground. The name Raheenacluig or ‘Raheen

na chluig’ has been translated as ‘the small enclosure of the bell’, although a variety of other

translations exist. Variants in translation suggest he ‘cluig’ element may simply be a corruption

of ‘cloiginn’ (skull or head), probably referring to Bray Head. Historical mapping from 1840 and

1910 (Figure 2) shows the church in ruins, with no associated buildings or features.

The SMR record for the church and enclosure describes the site as “situated on a small level

platform overlooking a marked northeast-facing slope with steep ground uphill to the

southwest. A nave and chancel church (L 10.8m; Wth 5.9m) with walls of irregular uncoursed

masonry (H 1.5-2.5m; Wth 0.85m). The gables are substantially intact. The door in the north

wall, which is slightly west of the centre, splays inwards and parts of the cut granite jambs

survive. There are simple round-headed windows in the east and west gables and a single

niche occurs in the south wall towards the west end. The church has been substantially

conserved. A rectangular area of rubble and mortar (dims. 4m x 2m) immediately east of the

church may represent the foundations of another building. The church is known as Raithín a'

Chluig, or 'little rath of the bell’.”

Architecturally, the extant church building may be categorised as an ‘undifferentiated nave

and chancel church’ (O’Keefe 2015, 116).

Buildings and a ‘moat’ feature was first described by Eugene O’Curry on 27th December 1838

in the Ordnance Survey Letters for County Wicklow -

“the sites of two smaller buildings, close together, may be traced near it on the

east side, with a nearly choked trench running north and south between them

and the church. The whole appears to have been enclosed by a moate, parts of

which remain on the east and northwest…” (Davies 2007, 24).

Whilst little is known about the early history of the church and its environs, Liam Price identified

the building within the possessions of the Friary of the Augustinian Hermits of Dublin (1983,

332).

This association was confirmed within Sean Duffy and Linzi Simpson’s chapter on the Friary


in Dublin and The Medieval World (Bradley et al eds. 2009, pp 202-249). Although no

contemporary accounts of the Friary exist, an 18th description notes that it was ‘a very

significant foundation’, consisting of a church with bell tower, a dormitory, a hall, a cemetery

and garden, covering an area of one and a half acres (ibid, 210). The Friary was formally

supressed by Henry VIII on 20 April AD 1540 and details of its possessions were recorded in

an extent dated 31 October of the same year.

The possessions recorded within the diocese of Dublin include 70 acres of unspecified land,

a meadow of 3 acres, a park of 6 acres, 1 house, 2 messuages and 14 gardens; yielding an

annual net revenue of £7 18s 11d. The Friary also held a significance number of gardens,

orchards, yards and 1 house in the surrounding parishes of St Andrew, St Patricks and St

Michael’s; together worth 61s 4d. Further afield 82 acres (60 arable, 20 pasture and 2

meadow) where held in the parish of Cloghran, north Dublin; valued at 40s annually.

At Raheenacluig, the Friary held 51 acres (30 arable, 20 pasture and 1 meadow), with 5

attached messuages; valued at 13s 4d. The Friary holdings at Raheenacluig, when compared

to their other holdings was a significant estate, which amounted to much of the former

townland of Raheenacluig.

In terms of the acquisition of this estate by the Friary, Duffy et al (ibid, 211) notes that a jury in

AD 1542 claimed to be unable to identify the original donors. However, the Reportorium Viride

(Rep. Vir.), composed under Archbishop Alen in AD 1533, suggests the Archibold family may

have been the primary donors (Gilbert 1854-9, 170). The date of this donation is not recorded,

but an AD 14th century date may be suggested with some degree of certainty.

This assertion is based on Flynn (2004, 17) who notes that the Archibold family were granted

the manors of Bray and Kilruddery by the Edward III (d. 1377). The family name Archibold is

associated with Kilruddery until AD 1399. Given that Davies (2007, 42) notes that a Geoffrey

Crump or Crampe has a lease for the manor of Bray renewed in AD 1360, and the fact that

Edward III died in AD 1377, the grant to the Archibolds must be within the period AD 1360 to

1377.

After the dissolution of the Friary of Augustinian Hermits in Dublin, the possessions of the

Friary were leased to lay landlords. In May AD 1541 a Dublin merchant, Robert Casey, was

granted a lease of the lands for an annual rent of £6 0s 9d. The following year another Dublin


merchant, Walter Tyrell, paid to the Crown the sum of £114 13s 4d, and on 10 July AD

1542, the former possessions of the Friary were granted to him for an annual rent of £6

0s 1d.

Interestingly the former Friary lands at Raheenacluig did not form part of the grant to Tyrell,

instead on the 15 June AD 1542 they were granted to ‘Robert Eustace and others, to the

use of Thomas Lutrell of Luttrelstown’ (ibid, 211). By AD 1641, a James Archibold is

recorded as the owner of the Raheenacluig lands, although he forfeits these by AD 1670

(UCD Down Survey Historical GIS).

By 1670 AD the Archibolds have been replaced as owners of Raheenacluig by a Richard

Edwards, who also acquires the lands of Oldcourt and Great Bray. The Edwards family

retained control of Raheenacluig into the 18th century, with the Registry of Deeds recording

five references between 1708 and 1723 AD, one of which refers to a 1682 AD deed. During

this period Raheenacluig seems to have been consistently linked to Oldcourt through its

Edwards’ association, and is noted as 81 acres in extent (Ian Cantwell, pers. comm.)


3 EXCAVATION METHODOLOGY

Two seasons of excavation were undertaken during Heritage Week, 19–25th August 2017

and 18–26 August 2018. Fieldwork was carried out by volunteer members of The Medieval

Bray Project directed by David McIlreavy under Licence No. 17E0356. Access to the site

was granted by Bray Municipal Council for the purpose of the 2017 excavation. A full

health and safety assessment was conducted with the excavation team members every

day for the duration of the proposed works. All excavation areas were fully secured to

prevent danger to public.

Cuttings 1 and 2 (2017) were de-sodded by hand, and the sods retained for reinstatement.

Cutting 3 (2018) was under heavy vegetation prior to the 2018 excavation, the majority of

which covering the slope consisted of rough couch grass, although the upper area of the

slope supported immature saplings of blackthorn. Where saplings were encountered the

trench was narrowed to minimise damage to upstanding tree stock.

All archaeological features/deposits excavated were fully excavated by hand and

photographed, drawn and recorded according to best practice guidelines. A sampling

strategy was devised in advance of the excavation which aimed to target any suitable

charcoal-rich or organic deposits for the purposes of radiocarbon dating and

paleoenvironmental analysis where appropriate. The composition, stratigraphic

relationships and interpretation of all contexts were recorded on pro-forma context sheets.

Archaeological features were drawn to scale, photographed and OD levels taken.

Comprehensive plans and cross-sectional drawings were produced at a scale of 1:10, 1:20

or 1:50 as appropriate. These were scanned, digitised and georeferenced to ITM projection

for the purpose of reporting. The soils and geology were also recorded. All cuttings were

backfilled and returned to a state agreed with Bray Municipal Council.

All spoil generated during the excavations was metal detected as per conditions stipulated

within the Ministerial Consent Licence issued in conjunction with these works. The

machine used was a Urceri GC-180 Metal Detector.

The excavation archive will be ordered, arranged, boxed and deposited with the statutory

authorities in accordance with Guidelines and Forms for the Transfer of Excavation

Archives to National Monuments Service Archive (National Monuments Service 2012) and

Guidelines for producing database record, for Archaeological Archives presented to

National Monuments Service Archive (National Monuments Service 2012).


4 EXCAVATION RESULTS

Three cuttings were excavated to the northeast and southwest of the upstanding remains of

Raheenacluig Church. The site of Cuttings 1 and 2 comprises uneven recreational grassland

on a north-facing slope at the foot of Bray Head, that of Cutting 3 comprises an overgrown

slope with sapling growth. Topsoil (C1) across the excavation cuttings was recorded as a dark

brown silty clay and was recorded to depths of 0.1–0.25m. Subsoil (C2) across the excavation

cuttings was recorded as a pale orange sandy clay with occasional stone inclusions.

4.1 CUTTING 1

Cutting 1 was situated 5m northeast of the church at ITM 727595, 717635 and 51.956 OD

(Figures 4, Plate 7). It measured 11.4m in length by 2m in width and was excavated to a

maximum depth of 0.45m.

Topsoil, C1, was recorded as 0.25m in maximum depth across Cutting 2. Forty artefacts were

recovered from C1, including ceramic (2017E0356:1:1-24), clay pipe (2017E0356:1:25-26), a

bone handle (2017E0356:1:27), a copper alloy coin (2017E0356:1:28), copper alloy scrap

(2017E0356:1:29), ferrous nails (2017E0356:1:30-34), ferrous wire fragments

(2017E0356:1:35-36), roofing slate (2017E0356:1:37-38) and lithics (2017E0356:1:39-40).

Towards the southwestern extent of the trench, a layer of partially decayed organic material

C3, had accumulated immediately overlying C1. C3 had a maximum depth of 0.05m.

Across Cutting 1, a dark brown silty clay with frequent gravel inclusions, C4, immediately

underlay C1. C4 had a maximum recorded depth of 0.22m.

Seventy-one artefacts were recovered from C4, including ceramic (2017E0356:4:1-42), clay

pipe (2017E0356:4:43-47), ferrous nails (2017E0356:4:48-61), ferrous wire fragments

(2017E0356:4:63-64), other ferrous objects (2017E0356:4:62/65-67), two lumps of lead

(2017E0356:4:68-69) and two pieces of slate (2017E0356:4:70-71).

A concentration of undressed stone and a dark brown silt, C11, was recorded at the southern

extremity of the cutting directly underlying C4. C11 rested directly on C2 subsoil and had a

maximum length and width of 1m (Figure 4; Plate 9). The deposit had a maximum depth of

0.22m and contained three pieces of ferrous metalwork (2017E0356:11:1-3) and one piece of

copper alloy waste (2017E0356:11:4). A sondage excavated underlying C11 confirmed that

there were no underlying features (Plate 10).


Midway along Cutting 1 a mid-brown silty clay was recorded extending east-west. This deposit

was assigned C13, and was recorded as 2m in maximum width, with a maximum depth of

0.12m. C13 abutted a concentration of small pebbles, C7, pressed into the subsoil (Figure 4;

Plate 11). A sondage confirmed that C7 and C13 filled a shallow natural depression.

At the northern extremity of the cutting, a heavily truncated ditch terminus C10 was recorded.

This feature extended from the eastern baulk of cutting and was recorded as 1m in exposed

length and 1.5m in width (Figure 4; Plate 12).

C10 was recorded as 0.3m in maximum depth, filled with a mid-orange sandy clay (C12) with

frequent stone inclusions.

4.2 CUTTING 2

Cutting 2 abutted the external northeast corner of the church building at ITM 727585, 717635

and 53.474m OD (Figure 5, Plate 13).

The cutting comprised an L shape (Figure 5) measuring 3m in maximum length by 2m in

maximum width and was excavated to a maximum depth of 0.52m. This trench was excavated

to investigate the surface on which the church building was constructed upon.

Topsoil, C1, was recorded as 0.15m in depth across Cutting 2. Underlying C1 a number of

deposits were recorded. C5, recorded immediately underlying C1, comprised a dark brown–

black mixed clay and gravel. C5 had a maximum recorded depth of 0.2m. Twenty-two artefacts

were recovered from C5, including glass (2017E0356:5:1), metal (2017E0356:5:2– 7), plastic

(2017E0356:5:8) and ceramic (2017E0356:5:9–22).

At the western extent of Cutting 2, C5 was partially underlain by C8, a mid-brown sandy clay

(Figure 5). C8 was found to include active tree roots and was not excavated further to avoid

de stabilisation (Plate 15).

The remainder of the western extent of Cutting 2 revealed subsoil, C2, directly underlying C5.

C2 was recorded as a mid-orange to brown sandy clay with occasional stone inclusions.

Within the eastern extent of Cutting 2, a shallow cut C14 had been excavated into C8 and C2.

C14 had been filled with a deposit of cobble sized undressed stone, C9 (Figure 5). The


maximum exposed dimensions of C9 were 1.75m length by 1.25m in width. A section

excavated across C13 recorded a maximum exposed depth of 0.2m (Plate 16). C9

appeared to directly abutt large undressed and un-mortared stones, C15, located at the

base of the church building. Sixteen artefacts were recovered from C9, including glass

(2017E0356:9:12), metal (2017E0356:9:13-14), ceramic (2017E0356:9:1-11), slate

(2017E0356:9:15) and a possible honestone (2017E0356:9:16).

4.3 CUTTING 3

Cutting 3 abutted the external northeast wall of the church at ITM 727591, 717626 and

54.174m OD (Figures 6 and 7, Plate 17). The L-shape cutting measured 15m in length

and 5m in maximum width, and was excavated to a maximum depth of 0.4m. The location

of trench targeted an area unavailable for geophysical survey in 2017 due to dense

vegetation coverage.

Topsoil, C1, was recorded as 0.31m in maximum depth across Cutting 3. Midway along

the cutting, an underlying layer of friable mid brown silty clay (C15) was recorded

underlying C1. C15 was notable for the frequency of well-developed rhizome roots, derived

from surrounding gorse. C15 had a maximum depth of 0.15m, however a maximum depth

of 0.25m was recorded at the southwestern extent of the cutting.

The majority of the cutting consisted of topsoil C15 directly overlying subsoil C2. C2 was

recorded as a mid-orange to brown sandy clay with occasional stone inclusions. However,

at the southwestern extent of the trench, a mid-brown silty clay with frequent gravel

inclusions, C16, immediately underlay C15. C16 had a maximum recorded depth of 0.25m

(Plate 18). Two ceramic artefacts were recovered from C16 (2017E0356:16:1-2).

Immediately underlying C16, a dark brown silty clay C18 was partially exposed extending

south.

Towards the western end of the cutting the truncated remains of a ditch feature, C17, was

recorded. The ditch had a maximum width of 1.1m and depth of 0.51m, and was filled with

a mid-brown sandy clay with stone inclusions (C19; Plate 19). C19 contained elements of

marine shell, terrestrial animal bone and fragments of charcoal.


5 DISCUSSION

Whilst the excavations at Raheenacluig Church revealed significant disturbance surrounding

the church building, results from Cuttings 1 and 2 do shed interesting new light on its historical

development.

The earliest material recovered from the excavations came from the topsoil of Cutting 1. Two

lithic artefacts (2017E0356:1:39-40) comprising a scraper and debitage flake were analysed

by Shane Delaney (Appendix 3). These chert pieces are considered to be Neolithic to Early

Bronze Age in date (4000-1500 BC). That both debitage and a tool type are recorded is

considered indicative may of possible tool production on site. Interestingly, the utilisation of

chert at Raheenacluig differs from the flint which was being used as a production medium c.

550m to the west southwest (Excavation Licence No. 01E0252; Clutterbuck 2003, 431).

However, both these artefacts are considered ex-situ, and only further research may uncover

more secure prehistoric activity in the immediate area.

In regard to the research question which centred around the possibility of unrecorded

settlement surrounding the church, and the observations by Eugene O’Curry in 1838 AD

(Davies 2007, 24), Cutting 1 produced some interesting, if inconclusive in terms of dating,

results. The area of high resistance identified during the geophysical survey (17R0017) which

comprised the majority of Cutting 1 was confirmed as a levelling deposit

The majority of artefactual material from Cutting 1 was recovered from this levelling deposit

assigned C4. This deposit contained seventy-one artefacts, including forty-two pieces of

ceramic, five pieces of clay pipe, twenty pieces of ferrous metalwork, two pieces of lead, and

two pieces of slate. The artefactual assemblage, which ranges in date between the 16th and

20th centuries AD, would suggest that there is not insignificant post-medieval activity at the

site. In particular there are three distinct concentrations of activity represented by the ceramic

evidence.

The earliest ceramic material (c. late AD 16th century) is represented by a small loop handle

from a Fine Glazed Red Earthenware mug (17E0356:4:9). This handle probably came from a

small mug, jug or tyg, and was produced in Yorkshire/English Midlands. Ticknall in South

Derbyshire is known to be an important producer of these wares.

Later AD 17th century activity was represented by examples of North Devon Gravel Tempered

Ware (17E0356:1:1–2; 17E0356:4:4), North Devon Gravel Free Ware (17E0356:4:5), Tin

Glazed Earthenware (17E0356:4:6), Manganese (17E0356:4:7) and Staffordshire-Bristol


Slipware (17E0356:1:3; 17E0356:4:8). A minimum number of six ceramic vessels were

represented within the finds assemblage.

The major producers of the North Devon Wares (both Gravel Tempered and Gravel Free

Wares) were Barnstable and Bideford. There are six sherds of North Devon Gravel Tempered

Wares. Two are rim sherds, one (4:1) from a large hollow vessel with a thick everted rim and

another (4:2) from a possible chamber pot. There are three body sherds (1:1, 1:2 and 4:4)

which all formed part of different hollow vessels. One basal piece of North Devon Gravel Free

Ware (4:5) was recorded, originating from a small hollow vessel with a flat base and splaying

sides. All the North Devon pieces had a characteristic mottled green/brown internal glaze.

The two pieces of Staffordshire-Bristol slipware are both basal pieces. One (1:3) originated

from a hollow vessel with a slightly splayed base angle and a yellow glaze. The other (4:8) is

from a hollow vessel, possibly a jug, mug or tyg with an internal and external black glaze. One

piece of Tin Glazed Earthenware (4:6) was recovered from the levelling deposit, which may

be a piece of flatware.

Manganese Glazed Wares were produced in Staffordshire-Bristol during the same period as

the Slipware noted above. One handle sherd (4:6) was recovered from the levelling deposit

with a distinctive brown manganese derived glaze.

It is likely that all these ceramic types came through Dublin port during the later AD 17th

century. A minimum number of six represented vessels is a considered a significant

concentration of ceramic from this period, and the inclusion of items such as chamber pots,

mugs/jugs/tygs, and even flatwares would suggest a heavy domestic bias. Three clay pipe

bowls with spur heels (17E0356:4:43–45) may also be of later AD 17th century date, probably

manufactured in Dublin.

The most obvious date range of ceramic material recovered from the levelling deposit can be

attributed to the AD 19th and 20th centuries. Most of this material consists of Black Glazed

Red Earthenware (27 sherds) and White Glazed Earthenware (24 sherds). The majority of

these pieces could be attributed to outdoor dining at the site, particularly as Bray became a

popular tourist destination with the arrival of the railway.

Aside from the ceramic evidence, a range of ferrous nails were recovered from the levelling

deposit, including structural examples, potential floorboard fixings and tacks for furniture.


Whilst these items cannot be attributed any particular period, it may be suggested that the

range of domestic late 17th items could suggest that the church was being utilised as a

domestic dwelling. The suggestion that these ferrous items could be the remains of late 17th

century domestic internal fittings is tantalising.

Given that the Raheenacluig lands were acquired by the Edwards family by 1670 AD, is

possible that the church site became a focus for some form of domestic activity on behalf of

new tenantry.

At the north eastern extent of Cutting 1 the curvilinear geophysical trend was confirmed as a

heavily truncated ditch (C10). However, no datable material, artefactual or environmental, was

recovered from the fill of this ditch feature. It is uncertain at this point if this feature is part of

the ‘moat’ feature described by O’Curry. However, given the projected line of this feature on

the geophysical plot, it may be considered very likely.

Underlying the levelling deposit described above, a heavily truncated packed earth floor

bounded by a pebble wall foundation (C7). Unfortunately, no artefactual material was

recovered from this material to suggest a date of construction. Based purely on location within

the curvilinear ditch feature circuit, it may be suggested that the truncated building floor feature

in Cutting 1 may be the remnants of one of buildings described by O’Curry.

In addition to the curvilinear ditch and building floor features, material recorded towards the

southwestern extent of Cutting 1 included a concentration of undressed stone assigned C11.

This is considered to represent rubble originating from the church building upslope.

Photographic evidence from the 19th century clearly shows that the northeast facing wall has

collapsed (Plate 17), and it is likely that this material may have accumulated immediately

downslope.

Cutting 2 may also have provided evidence for late 17th century occupation of the site. Five

pieces of pantile roofing material were recovered from the stone packing material C9. This

type of material became popular in Ireland around the 17th century, although use continued in

the 18th century. The limited spatial area that the tiles were recovered from may represent a

later 17th century reroof of the church building.

The ceramic evidence recovered from the C16 layer of Cutting 3 were both considered to be

post medieval in provisional date, and therefore consistent with that from Cutting 1 and 2. The

only feature recorded within the cutting consisted of a heavily truncated ditch C17, filled with


redeposited silty clay (C19). Marine shell and terrestrial animal bone were recovered from

the fill of the feature.

The animal bone recovered from the C19 ditch fill consisted of part of the mandible of an

adult cow, and a tooth from an adult horse. Both these elements were determined to have

insufficient collagen content to allow for radiocarbon dating, suggesting that they had been

exposed to aerobic atmosphere microorganisms prior to deposition.

A fragment of charcoal was recovered from the same ditch fill material, returning a

radiocarbon date of c. AD 1447–1620 (UBA-43591), with the 2 sigma probability suggesting

a median date of AD1478. This suggests that the ditch feature was filled in during the last

quarter of the AD 15th century.

It is considered that the ditch feature in Cutting 3 may be the feature in the ‘Raheen’ (Irish

‘small enclosure’) place name RaheennaCluig, suggesting that it survived as an open

feature during the ownership of the site by the Augustinian Hermits.


6 CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion the excavations at Raheenacluig conducted by The Medieval Bray Project

revealed three new facets to the historical and archaeological development of the church

and its immediate environs.

Firstly, the identification of a possible Neolithic or Early Bronze Age tool production site.

This adds to the rich prehistoric landscape along the coastal fringe of north Co. Wicklow /

south Co. Dublin.

Secondly, the excavations recorded the truncated remains of two ditch features in Cutting

1 and 3. The ditch in Cutting 3 is considered to represent the ‘Raheen’ feature referred to

in the place name evidence. Further research may indicate if the ditches are concentric,

which would provide further suggestion of a previously unrecorded ecclesiastic enclosure.

The radiocarbon date returned from the ditch feature in Cutting 3 suggests that it was

backfilled in the last quarter of the AD 15th century.

This suggests that the ditch feature in Cutting 3 was open and respected by the church

building erected by the Augstinian Hermits in the late AD 14th century. For this to have

been respected in this way a feature of some ecclesiastical importance, possibly a

previously unrecorded church building such as an oratory. However, at a point in the later

AD 15th century the enclosing ditch to this element of the site was filled in, suggesting

some substantial redevelopment of the site prior to the Dissolution.

Finally, all excavations indicated 17th century AD activity at the church. This activity may

have involved reroofing of the church building using pantile and domestic activity. Indeed,

given that the Down Survey report for Bray (1650s) record the area almost devoid of

inhabitants, a reoccupation of the church site in the late 1670s, even with a domestic

focus, is entirely possible.

Future research will hopefully confirm the extent of the activities highlighted above, and

provide further evidence relating to the constructional history of the church building itself.


7 REFERENCES

Bradley, S. Fletcher, A. J. Simms, A. (eds) 2005 Dublin in the Medieval World: Studies in

`honour of Howard B. Clarke, Four Courts Press, Dublin

Clutterbuck, R. 2003 Unpublished archaeological report, CRDS Ltd.

Curran, S. 2017 Geophysical Survey Report: The Medieval Bray Project at Raheenacluig

Church (Licence: 17R0017) Unpublished report.

Davies, M. 2007 That Favourite Resort: The Story of Bray, Co. Wicklow. Wordwell.

Dublin. O’Flanagan, M. (ed.) 1928 Letters containing information relative to the

antiquities of the County of Wicklow: collected during the progress of the Ordnance

Survey in 1838, Bray.

O’Keeffe, T. 2015 Medieval Irish Buildings 1100-1600, Maynooth Research Guides for

Local History, Four Courts Press, Dublin

Price, L., 1983 The Place-names of Co. Wicklow, V – The Barony of Rathdown, Dublin

Institute For Advanced Studies, Dublin

Cartographic Sources

Ordnance Survey maps of County Wicklow 1838, 1871, and 1909.

Digital References

www.archaeology.ie – Database of recorded archaeological sites maintained by the

Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

www.osi.ie – OSI historic 6-inch and 25-inch maps & aerial photographs (1995, 2000 and

2005).

www.excavations.ie – Summary of archaeological excavation from 1970−2017.

www.heritagemaps.ie – The Heritage Council web-based spatial data viewer which focuses

on the built, cultural and natural heritage around Ireland and off shore.

www.googleearth.com – Aerial photographs of the proposed development area.

http://www.archaeology.ie/

http://www.osi.ie/

http://www.excavations.ie/

http://www.heritagemaps.ie/

http://www.googleearth.com/


PLATES

Plate 1: Leaflet advertising ‘Raheen na Cluig’ symposium, 17th November 2018


Plate 2: Earth resistance geophysical survey in progress, Bray town in background

(photo: S Curran)

Plate 3: Raheenacluig Church, facing west


Plate 4: Possible 12th century window cut stone surround, southeast interior face of church

Plate 5: Survey photo of northeast face of church, facing south


Plate 6: View from Raheenacluig church over Killiney Bay, facing northwest

Plate 7: Location of Cutting 1 prior to excavation, facing northeast


Plate 8: Cutting 1, after exposure of C4, facing southwest

Plate 9: Cutting 1, exposure of C11, facing east southeast


Plate 10: Cutting 1, sondage excavated underlying C11, facing southwest

Plate 11: Cutting 1, partial excavation of C7 with C13 extending to left, facing east


Plate 12: Cutting 1, excavation of section within C10 ditch, facing west southwest

Plate 13: Location of Cutting 2, prior to excavation, facing southeast


Plate 14: Cutting 2, C5 mid excavation facing southeast

Plate 15: Cutting 2, exposure of C8 deposit showing tree roots, facing southwest


Plate 16: Cutting 2, section excavated into C9, facing southeast


Plate 17: Cutting 3, clearance of vegetation outside church building, facing south


Plate 18: Cutting 3, exposure of C16 gravel rich layer, facing northeast

Plate 19: Cutting 3, post excavation of ditch C19, facing southeast

APPENDIX 1 EXCAVATION ARCHIVE

APPENDIX 1.1 CONTEXT REGISTER

Cu

ttin

g

Co

nte

xt

Fil

l o

f

Le

ng

th (

m)

Wid

th (

m)

Dep

th (

m)

Inte

rpre

tati

on

Des

cri

pti

on

Co

nte

xt

Ab

ove

Co

nte

xt

Be

low

Art

efa

cts

1, 2 C1 N/A N/A N/A 0.1- 0.25

Topsoil Dark brown silty clay N/A C2 Ceramic, ferrous objects, slate

1, 2 C2 N/A N/A N/A N/A Subsoil Pale orange sandy clay occasional stone inclusions C1 N/A N/A

1 C3 N/A 1.1 0.6 0.05 Decayed vegetation Partially decayed vegetation N/A C1 N/A

1

C4

N/A

N/A

N/A

0.22

Levelling deposit

Dark brown silty clay frequent gravel inclusions

C1

C2, C7, C11

Ceramic/clay pipe/ferrous objects/lead

2

C5

N/A

N/A

N/A

0.2

Surface

Dark brown-black mixed clay frequent gravel inclusions

C1

C2, C8, C9

Ceramic, glass, ferrous objects, plastic

- C6 - - - - Void Void - - -

1 C7 N/A N/A N/A 0.03 Truncated wall base Small pebbles pressed into subsoil C4 C2 N/A

2 C8 N/A N/A 0..5 0.03 Relict soil Mid brown sandy clay C5 C2 N/A

2 C9 C14 1.75 1.25 0.2 Stone packing Undressed cobble sized stones C5 C14 Ceramic, glass, ferrous objects

1 C10 N/A 1.5 1 0.3 Ditch cut Truncated ditch, gentle break of slope, stepped side profile, slightly concave/flat base

C12 C2 N/A

1 C11 N/A 1 1 0.22 Rubble Undressed stone and dark brown silt C4 C2 N/A

1 C12 C10 1.5 1 0.3 Fill of ditch Mid orange sandy clay stone inclusions C4 C10 N/A

1 C13 N/A N/A 2 0.12 Surface Mid brown silty clay C4 C2 N/A

1 C14 N/A 1.75 1.25 0.2 Cut Gentle break of slope, shallow slope, sloping base C9 C2 N/A

3 C15 N/A N/A N/A 0.15- 25

Relict soil Friable mid brown silty clay. frequent well-developed rhizome roots, derived from surrounding gorse

C1 C2, C16

N/A

3 C16 N/A N/A N/A 0.25 Levelling deposit Mid-brown silty clay with frequent gravel inclusions C15 C2 Ceramic

Cu

ttin

g

Co

nte

xt

Fil

l o

f

Le

ng

th (

m)

Wid

th (

m)

Dep

th (

m)

Inte

rpre

tati

on

Des

cri

pti

on

Co

nte

xt

Ab

ove

Co

nte

xt

Be

low

Art

efa

cts

3 C17 N/A N/A 1.1 0.51 Cut Shallow truncated cut of ditch, gradual sides, with rounded base C18 C2

3 C18 N/A N/A 1.1 0.2 Levelling Deposit Dark brown silty clay C15 C2

3 C19 C17 N/A 1.1 0.51 Fill of ditch Mid-brown sandy clay with inclusions of stone, marine shell and

terrestrial animal bone. Charcoal fragments C3 C17

APPENDIX 1.2 ARTEFACT REGISTER

Artefact No. Context Object

No. Name Material Description Dimensions (mm) Cutting No.

2017E0356:1:1 1 1 North Devon Gravel Tempered Ceramic Body sherd; hollow vessel; internal mottled green glaze

Topsoil; Cutting 1

2017E0356:1:2 1 2 North Devon Gravel Tempered Ceramic Body sherd; hollow vessel; internal brown mottled glaze

Topsoil; Cutting 1

2017E0356:1:3 1 3 Staffordshire-Bristol Slipware Ceramic Base sherd; hollow vessel; slightly splayed base angle; internal yellow glaze

Topsoil; Cutting 1

2017E0356:1:4 1 4 Black Glazed Red Earthenware Ceramic Body sherd; hollow vessel; internal black glaze Topsoil; Cutting 1

2017E0356:1:5 1 5 Black Glazed Red Earthenware Ceramic Body sherd; hollow vessel; internal and external black glaze

Topsoil; Cutting 1

2017E0356:1:6 1 6 Black Glazed Red Earthenware Ceramic Body sherd; hollow vessel; internal black glaze; external half glaze with drippy edge

Topsoil; Cutting 1

2017E0356:1:7 1 7 Transfer-printed Ware Ceramic Body sherd; flatware; blue chinoisiere pattern Topsoil; Cutting 1

2017E0356:1:8 1 8 Transfer-printed Ware Ceramic Body sherd; flatware; blue pattern Topsoil; Cutting 1

2017E0356:1:9 1 9 Transfer-printed Ware Ceramic Body sherd; flatware; grey pattern Topsoil; Cutting 1

2017E0356:1:10 1 10 Transfer-printed Ware Ceramic Body sherd; flatware; purple foliage pattern Topsoil; Cutting 1

2017E0356:1:11 1 11 Transfer-printed Ware Ceramic Body sherd; flatware; purple foliage pattern Topsoil; Cutting 1

2017E0356:1:12 1 12 Pearlware Ceramic Base sherd; hollow vessel (jar?); footring Topsoil; Cutting 1

2017E0356:1:13 1 13 Unglazed Red Earthenware Ceramic Body sherd; hollow vessel Topsoil; Cutting 1

2017E0356:1:14 1 14 Unglazed Red Earthenware Ceramic Rim sherd; hollow vessel (flowerpot) Topsoil; Cutting 1

2017E0356:1:15 1 15 White Glazed Earthenware Ceramic Rim sherd; hollow vessel

Topsoil; Cutting 1

2017E0356:1:16 1 16 White Glazed Earthenware Ceramic Handle sherd; small narrow handle probably from cup

Topsoil; Cutting 1

2017E0356:1:17 1 17 White Glazed Earthenware Ceramic Base sherd; hollow vessel Topsoil; Cutting 1

2017E0356:1:18 1 18 White Glazed Earthenware Ceramic Base sherd; flatware Topsoil; Cutting 1

2017E0356:1:19 1 19 White Glazed Earthenware Ceramic Body sherd; hollow vessel Topsoil; Cutting 1








2017E0356:1:25 1 25 Clay Pipe Stem Ceramic Fragment of clay pipe stem; plain L 63mm Diam. 6mm

Topsoil; Cutting 1

2017E0356:1:26 1 26 Clay Pipe Stem Ceramic Fragment of clay pipe stem; plain L 21mm Diam. 6mm

Topsoil; Cutting 1

2017E0356:1:27

1

27

Bone Handle

Bone

Bone handle; whittle-tang with part of tang in situ; roughly rectangular in shape with rounded end; rectangular in section

L 68mm Wth 11– 12mm Th 7.8mm

Topsoil; Cutting 1

2017E0356:1:28

1

28

Copper Alloy Coin

Copper Alloy

Copper alloy coin; circular flan with milling around edge of flan; obv: horse '20p'; rev: harp '1995 / EIRE'

Diam. 26.7mm Th 1.5mm

Topsoil; Cutting 1

2017E0356:1:29 1 29 Copper Alloy Scrap Copper Alloy Curved fragment of copper alloy scrap; edges are torn

53mm x 44mm x 0.5mm

Topsoil; Cutting 1

2017E0356:1:30

1

30

Iron Nail

Iron

Iron nail; irregular flat head; shank rectangular in section; expanded point

L 86mm Head: 21mm x 14.5mm Shank: 10mm x 7.5mm

Topsoil; Cutting 1

2017E0356:1:31

1

31

Iron Nail

Iron

Iron nail; square flat head; shank circular in section

L 69mm Head: 18mm x 18mm Shank diam. 11mm

Topsoil; Cutting 1

2017E0356:1:32

1

32

Iron Nail

Iron

Iron nail; sub-square head; shank rectangular in section

L 57mm Head: 16mm x 16mm Shank: 8mm x 6mm

Topsoil; Cutting 1

2017E0356:1:33

1

33

Iron Nail

Iron

Iron nail; small rectangular head; shank rectangular in section

L 45mm Head: 9.5mm x 6.5mm Shank: 5.5mm x 3.5mm

Topsoil; Cutting 1

2017E0356:1:34 1 34 Iron Nail Iron Shank of iron nail; rectangular in section; bent L 62mm Wth 6.5mm Th 5.5mm

Topsoil; Cutting 1



2017E0356:1:35 1 35 Iron Wire Iron Fragment of iron wire; two lengths of iron twisted; lengths are circular in section

L 106mm Wth 6mm Th 3.5mm

Topsoil; Cutting 1

2017E0356:1:36 1 36 Iron Wire Iron Fragment of iron wire; two lengths of iron twisted; lengths are circular in section


Topsoil; Cutting 1

2017E0356:1:37 1 37 Roofing Slate Slate Small fragment of roofing slate; grey in colour 54mm x 21mm x 2mm

Topsoil; Cutting 1

2017E0356:1:38 1 38 Roofing Slate Slate Small fragment of roofing slate; grey in colour 44mm x 24mm x 4mm

Topsoil; Cutting 1

2017E0356:1:39 1 39 Scraper Chert Chert Scraper, complete 32mm x 25mm x 8mm

Topsoil; Cutting 1

2017E0356:1:40 1 40 Chunk Chert Chert Debitage 28mm x 14mm x 7mm

Topsoil; Cutting 1

2017E0356:4:1 4 1 North Devon Gravel Tempered Ceramic Rim sherd; large hollow vessel; everted thick rim

Levelling Deposit; Cutting 1

2017E0356:4:2

4

2

North Devon Gravel Tempered

Ceramic

Rim sherd; hollow vessel (probably chamber pot); everted flat rim; internal mottled green glaze


2017E0356:4:3 4 3 North Devon Gravel Tempered Ceramic Base sherd; small hollow vessel; flat base with plain base angle; internal mottled green glaze


2017E0356:4:4 4 4 North Devon Gravel Tempered Ceramic Body sherd; hollow vessel; internal mottled green glaze


2017E0356:4:5

4

5

North Devon Gravel Free

Ceramic

Base sherd; small hollow vessel; flat base with rounded base angle and splaying sides; internal mottled green glaze


2017E0356:4:6 4 6 Tin-glazed Earthenware Ceramic Body sherd; flatware?; plain white Levelling Deposit;

Cutting 1

2017E0356:4:7

4

7

Manganese Mottled Ware

Ceramic

Handle sherd; jug/mug/tankard; small fragment of strap handle; internal and external brown manganese glaze


2017E0356:4:8 4 8 Staffordshire-Bristol Slipware Ceramic Base sherd; small hollow vessel, possibly jug/mug/tyg; internal and external black glaze


2017E0356:4:9 4 9 Fine Black Glazed Red Earthenware

Ceramic Handle sherd; small jug/mug/tyg; narrow loop handle; internal and external glossy black glaze


2017E0356:4:10 4 10 Black Glazed Red Earthenware Ceramic Rim sherd; hollow vessel; everted square rim; internal and external black glaze




2017E0356:4:11

4

11

Black Glazed Red Earthenware

Ceramic

Body sherd; large hollow vessel; internal and external rilling; internal and external black glaze with manganese


2017E0356:4:12

4

12


Ceramic

Body sherd; hollow vessel; external rilling; internal and external black glaze with manganese


2017E0356:4:13 4 13 Black Glazed Red Earthenware Ceramic Body sherd; hollow vessel; internal and external black glaze with manganese


2017E0356:4:14

4

14


Ceramic



2017E0356:4:15

4

15


Ceramic



2017E0356:4:16

4

16


Ceramic



2017E0356:4:17

4

17


Ceramic





















2017E0356:4:26 4 26 Black Glazed Red Earthenware Ceramic Body sherd; hollow vessel; internal rilling; internal black glaze; external black half glaze


2017E0356:4:27 4 27 Black Glazed Red Earthenware Ceramic Body sherd; internal and external glossy black glaze






2017E0356:4:30 4 30 Unglazed Red Earthenware Ceramic Body sherd; hollow vessel Levelling Deposit;

Cutting 1

2017E0356:4:31 4 31 Black Stoneware Ceramic Base sherd; hollow vessel; footring Levelling Deposit;

Cutting 1

2017E0356:4:32 4 32 Whieldon/Astbury Ware Ceramic Body sherd; hollow vessel (teapot?); external green glaze with white applied floral decoration


2017E0356:4:33 4 33 Transfer-printed Ware Ceramic Rim sherd; plate; blue willow pattern Levelling Deposit;

Cutting 1


Cutting 1


Cutting 1

2017E0356:4:36 4 36 Transfer-printed Ware Ceramic Body sherd; plate; blue willow pattern Levelling Deposit;

Cutting 1

2017E0356:4:37 4 37 Transfer-printed Ware Ceramic Body sherd; plate; blue willow pattern Levelling Deposit;

Cutting 1

2017E0356:4:38 4 38 Transfer-printed Ware Ceramic Rim sherd; plate; blue floral pattern Levelling Deposit;

Cutting 1

2017E0356:4:39 4 39 Transfer-printed Ware Ceramic Rim sherd; plate; grey floral pattern Levelling Deposit;

Cutting 1

2017E0356:4:40 4 40 Transfer-printed Ware Ceramic Body sherd; plate; brown diaper pattern Levelling Deposit;

Cutting 1

2017E0356:4:41 4 41 Creamware Ceramic Body sherd; flatware Levelling Deposit;

Cutting 1

2017E0356:4:42 4 42 Semi-porcelain Ceramic Body sherd; hollow vessel Levelling Deposit;

Cutting 1



2017E0356:4:43 4 43 Clay Pipe Bowl Ceramic Small plain bowl; spur heel; 1690–1750 Levelling Deposit;

Cutting 1

2017E0356:4:44 4 44 Clay Pipe Bowl Ceramic Small plain bowl; spur heel; 1690–1750 Levelling Deposit;

Cutting 1

2017E0356:4:45 4 45 Clay Pipe Bowl Ceramic Small plain bowl; 1690–1750 Levelling Deposit;

Cutting 1

2017E0356:4:46 4 46 Clay Pipe Bowl Ceramic Fragment of clay pipe bowl; milling around top of rim


2017E0356:4:47 4 47 Clay Pipe Stem Ceramic Fragment of clay pipe stem; plain Levelling Deposit;

Cutting 1

2017E0356:4:48

4

48

Iron Nail

Iron

Iron nail; rectangular burred head; shank rectangular in section

L 118mm Head: 13.5mm x 10.5mm Shank: 8mm x 5mm


2017E0356:4:49

4

49

Iron Nail

Iron

Iron nail; possible pyramidal head; shank rectangular in section

L 82mm Head: 10mm x 5.5mm x 3.5mm Shank: 6.5mm x 4.5mm


2017E0356:4:50

4

50

Iron Nail

Iron

Iron nail; irregular flat head; shank rectangular in section

L 57mm Head: 21mm x 15mm Shank: 4.5mm x 3.5mm


2017E0356:4:51

4

51

Iron Nail

Iron

Iron nail; square burred head; shank rectangular in section

L 65mm Head: 6.5mm x 6.5mm Shank: 5mm x 3.5mm


2017E0356:4:52

4

52

Iron Nail

Iron




2017E0356:4:53 4 53 Iron Nail Iron Iron nail; shank fragment; rectangular in section L 53mm Wth 7mm Th 5mm


2017E0356:4:54

4

54

Iron Nail

Iron

Iron nail; irregular head; shank rectangular in section





2017E0356:4:55

4

55

Iron Nail

Iron

Iron nail; rectangular flat head; shank rectangular in section



2017E0356:4:56

4

56

Iron Nail

Iron

Iron nail/tack; sub-rectangular slightly burred head; shank rectangular in section



2017E0356:4:57

4

57

Iron Nail

Iron

Iron nail/tack; rectangular flat head; shank square in section

L 33.5mm Head: 11mm x 8mm Shank: 4.5mm x 4.5mm


2017E0356:4:58

4

58

Iron Nail

Iron

Iron nail/tack; irregular head; shank rectangular in section; clenched point?

L 28mm Head: 17mm x 11mm Shank: 5mm x 3.5mm


2017E0356:4:59

4

59

Iron Nail

Iron

Iron nail; head encrusted; shank rectangular in section

L 39.5mm Head: 15mm x 7mm Shank: 6mm x 5mm


2017E0356:4:60 4 60 Iron Nail Iron Iron nail; shank fragment; rectangular in section L 33.5mm Wth 9mm Th 8.5mm


2017E0356:4:61 4 61 Iron Nail Iron Iron nail; shank fragment; rectangular in section; clenched point

L 27mm Wth 8mm Th 6mm


2017E0356:4:62 4 62 Iron Peg Iron Iron peg; looped head; circular in section L 190mm Diam. 6.5mm


2017E0356:4:63 4 63 Iron Wire Iron Fragment of iron wire; bent in two places; circular in section

L 196mm Diam. 3.5mm


2017E0356:4:64 4 64 Iron Wire Iron Short length of iron wire; circular in section L 56.5mm Diam. 3.5mm


2017E0356:4:65 4 65 Iron Object Iron Small iron object; possible fragment of mesh fence



2017E0356:4:66 4 66 Iron Object Iron Strip of iron; sub-rectangular in section; curved; notch cut in metal towards one end



2017E0356:4:67 4 67 Iron Object Iron Small strip of iron L 44.5mm Wth 15mm Th 3mm




2017E0356:4:68 4 68 Lump of Lead Lead Irregularly shaped lump of lead L 59mm Wth 17mm Th 11mm


2017E0356:4:69 4 69 Lump of Lead Lead Irregularly shaped lump of lead L 41mm Wth 20mm Th 10mm


2017E0356:4:70 4 70 Roofing Slate Slate Small fragment of roofing slate; grey in colour L 58mm Wth 53mm Th 4mm




2017E0356:5:1 5 1 Mineral Water/Soda Bottle Glass Body sherd; aqua green glass; embossed on side '...ANS'

Surface; Cutting 2

2017E0356:5:2 5 2 Copper Alloy Coin Copper Alloy Coin with circular flan; milled around edge; obv: bull '5p'; rev: harp 'EIRE' '1982'

Diam. 23.5mm Th 1mm

Surface; Cutting 2

2017E0356:5:3 5 3 Copper Alloy Coin Copper Alloy Coin with circular flan; obv: peacock '1p'; rev: harp 'EIRE' '1982'

Diam. 20mm Th 1mm

Surface; Cutting 2

2017E0356:5:4 5 4 Iron Bar Iron Iron bar; circular in section; small length of iron attached at right angles, also circular in section

L 209mm Diam. 10mm

Surface; Cutting 2

2017E0356:5:5 5 5 Iron Peg Iron Iron peg; looped head, loop almost closed; circular in section

L 170mm Diam. 4mm

Surface; Cutting 2

2017E0356:5:6 5 6 Iron Peg Iron Iron peg; looped head; circular in section L 109mm Diam. 8mm

Surface; Cutting 2

2017E0356:5:7

5

7

Iron Strap

Iron

Iron strap; rectangular and flat; circular perforation at either end

L 76mm Wth 29.5mm Th 3mm Diam. of perf. 7mm

Surface; Cutting 2

2017E0356:5:8

5

8

Plastic Stopper

Plastic

Plastic stopper for soda bottle; circular flat top, milled around edge; corkscrew ridges on stopper; top of stopper 'SOFT DRINKS / 61 / BRIGGS / BELFAST'

H 32mm Diam. 29.5mm

Surface; Cutting 2

2017E0356:5:9 5 9 Creamware Ceramic Body sherd; flatware Surface; Cutting 2

2017E0356:5:10 5 10 Green Glazed Earthenware Ceramic Body sherd; hollow vessel; ribbed on exterior; internal and external green glaze

Surface; Cutting 2

2017E0356:5:11 5 11 White Glazed Earthenware Ceramic Rim sherd; flatware Surface; Cutting 2

2017E0356:5:12 5 12 White Glazed Earthenware Ceramic Handle sherd; cup Surface; Cutting 2

2017E0356:5:13 5 13 White Glazed Earthenware Ceramic Base sherd; flatware

Surface; Cutting 2



2017E0356:5:14 5 14 White Glazed Earthenware Ceramic Base sherd; flatware Surface; Cutting 2





2017E0356:5:19 5 19 White Glazed Earthenware Ceramic Body sherd; flatware Surface; Cutting 2

2017E0356:5:20 5 20 White Glazed Earthenware Ceramic Body sherd; flatware Surface; Cutting 2

2017E0356:5:21 5 21 White Glazed Earthenware Ceramic Body sherd; flatware; orange glaze on interior Surface; Cutting 2

2017E0356:5:22

5

22

Ceramic Pipe

Ceramic

Fragment of ceramic pipe; red earthenware fabric with dark red/brown glaze on interior and exterior

Surface; Cutting 2

2017E0356:9:1 9 1 Salt-glazed Ware Ceramic Base sherd; flatware Trench 2

2017E0356:9:2 9 2 Pearlware Ceramic Body sherd; flatware Trench 2

2017E0356:9:3 9 3 Transfer-printed Ware Ceramic Base sherd; flatware; black pattern Trench 2

2017E0356:9:4 9 4 White Glazed Earthenware Ceramic Rim sherd; hollow vessel (mug?) Trench 2

2017E0356:9:5 9 5 White Glazed Earthenware Ceramic Base sherd; flatware Trench 2

2017E0356:9:6 9 6 White Glazed Earthenware Ceramic Body sherd; flatware Trench 2

2017E0356:9:7 9 7 Pantile Ceramic Fragment of pantile; flanged end L 77mm Wth 60mm Th 13mm

Trench 2

2017E0356:9:8 9 8 Pantile Ceramic Small fragment of pantile L 69mm Wth 42mm Th 12mm

Trench 2


Trench 2


Trench 2


Trench 2

2017E0356:9:12 9 12 Wine Bottle Glass Very small body sherd; dark green glass Trench 2



2017E0356:9:13

9

13

Silver Coin

Silver

Silver coin; circular flan; milling around edge; obv: bust facing left 'GEORGIVS V DEI GRA : BRITT : OMN : REX'; Rev: crowned lion on crown 'DEF . FID . IMP. IND. 1936 . ONE . SHILLING'


Trench 2

2017E0356:9:14 9 14 Copper Alloy Cartridge Copper Alloy Copper alloy shotgun cartridge; 'TRULOCK & HARRISON / DUBLIN / NO. 12'

Trench 2


Trench 2

2017E0356:9:16 9 16 Stone Sandstone Possible honestone L 77mm W 69mm T 18mm

Trench 2

2017E0356:11:1

11

1

Iron Nail

Iron

Iron nail/tack; oval flat head; shank rectangular in section

L 33mm Head: 13.5mm x 10mm Shank: 6mm x 5mm

Trench 2

2017E0356:11:2 11 2 Iron Sheet Metal Iron Fragment of iron sheet metal; sub-rectangular in shape; flat

L 54.5mm Wth 34.5mm Th 1.5mm

Trench 2

2017E0356:11:3 11 3 Iron Sheet Metal Iron Small fragment of iron sheet metal L 37mm Wth 18mm Th 2mm

Trench 2

2017E0356:11:4 11 4 Copper Alloy Waste Copper Alloy Small fragment of copper alloy waste; irregular in shape

L 22.5mm Wth 14mm Th 12mm

Trench 2

2017E0356:16:1 16 1 North Devon Gravel Tempered Ceramic Lid sherd; thick central area, thin rim Trench 3

2017E0356:16:2 16 2 North Devon Gravel Tempered Ceramic Lid sherd; thick central area, thin rim Trench 3

APPENDIX 1.3 SAMPLE REGISTER

Sample No.

Context

Description

Amount (L)

Date

1 C13 Bulk Soil 20 23.08.17

2 C15 Bulk Soil 15 23.08.17

3 C15 Bone 5 23.08.17

4 C15 Shell 2.5 23.08.17

5 C19 Bulk Soil 20 24.08.18

6 C19 Bone 10 25.08.18

7 C19 Shell rich soil 5 25.08.18

APPENDIX 1.4 PHOTOGRAPH REGISTER

Photo No.

Context

Description

Orientation

Date

8004 N/A Area of Cutting 1, pre vegetation clearance Northeast 19.08.17

8005 N/A Area of Cutting 1, pre vegetation clearance Southwest 19.08.17

8006 N/A Church interior, pre clearance Northwest 19.08.17

8007 N/A Vandalism within church, closeup Northwest 19.08.17

8008 N/A Litter within church, closeup West 19.08.17

8009 N/A Litter within church, closeup Southwest 19.08.17

8010 N/A Partial clearance, church interior Southeast 19.08.17



8013 N/A General shot, litter clearance Northeast 19.08.17

8014 N/A Cutting 1, post vegetation clearance Northeast 19.08.17

8015 N/A Volunteers, vegetation clearance Southwest 19.08.17

8016 N/A Medieval Bray signage N/A 19.08.17

8017 N/A Cutting 1, desodding Northeast 19.08.17

8018 N/A Cutting 1, desodding Southeast 19.08.17



8022 C4 Cutting 1, exposure C4 Southwest 19.08.17


8024 C4 Cutting1, exposure C4 Southeast 19.08.17

8025 C4 Cutting 1, cleaning C4 Northeast 20.08.17


8027 N/A Context sheet recording Northwest 20.08.17

8028 C4 Cutting 1, sondage northwest corner N/A 20.08.17

8029 C4 Cutting 1, sondage northwest corner Northwest 20.08.17

8030 C4 Cutting 1, sondage southeast corner N/A 20.08.17

8031 C4 Cutting 1, sondage southeast corner Northwest 20.08.17

8032 C4 Cutting 1, partial removal of C4 Northeast 20.08.17

8033 C4 Cutting 1, partial removal of C4 Northwest 20.08.17

8034 C5 Cutting 2, partial exposure C5 Southeast 20.08.17

8035 C5 Cutting 2, partial exposure C5 Southeast 20.08.17

8036 N/A Cutting 2, George V shilling, C5 N/A 20.08.17

Photo No.

Context

Description

Orientation

Date

8037 N/A General shot, church interior Southeast 20.08.17

8038 C4 Cutting 1, partial removal of C4 Southeast 20.08.17

8039 C7 Cutting 1, partial exposure C7 Southwest 20.08.17




8044 C8 Cutting 2, exposure C8 Southeast 21.08.17



8047 C5 Cutting 2 ext, exposure C5 Southwest 21.08.17

8048 C5 Cutting 2 ext, exposure C5 Southeast 21.08.17

8049 C4 Cutting 1, full removal C4 Northeast 22.08.17

8050 C4 Cutting 1, full removal C4 Northwest 22.08.17

8051 C9 Cutting 2, full exposure of C9 Southwest 22.08.17

8052 C9 Cutting 2, full exposure of C9 Southeast 22.08.17




8056 C10 Cutting 1, partial exposure of ditch cut Southwest 22.08.17

8057 C10 Cutting 1, partial exposure of ditch cut Southwest 22.08.17

8060 C13 Cutting 1, initial exposure of C13 Northeast 22.08.17

8061 C7,C13 Cutting 1, initial exposure of C7, C13 Southeast 22.08.17

8062 C11 Cutting 1, exposure of C11 Southwest 22.08.17

8063 C11 Cutting 1, exposure of C11 Northeast 22.08.17

8064 C11 Cutting 1, exposure of C11 East Northeast 22.08.17

8065 C9 Cutting 2, sondage through C9 deposit Northeast 22.08.17

8066 C9 Cutting 2, sondage through C9 deposit Northeast 22.08.17

8067 C9 Cutting 2, sondage through C9 deposit Southeast 22.08.17


8069 C9 Cutting 2, sondage through C9 deposit East Southeast 22.08.17


8071 C7, C13 Cutting 1, sondage through C7, C13 East 23.08.17

8072 C7, C13 Cutting 1, sondage through C7, C13 East 23.08.17

8073 C7, C13 Cutting 1, sondage through C7, C13 Southwest 23.08.17

8074 C7 Cutting 1, sondage exposure of C7 Northwest 23.08.17


8076 C10, C12 Cutting 1, sondage through C10, C12 Northwest 23.08.17

8077 C10, C12 Cutting 1, sondage through C10, C12 Southwest 23.08.17


8079 C7, C10, C12

Cutting 1, sondages through C7, C10 West 23.08.17

8080 N/A Cutting 1, removal of C11 Northeast 23.08.17

8081 C5 Cutting 2, exposure of C5 West 23.08.17

8082 C5 Cutting 2, exposure of C5 Southwest 23.08.17

8083 N/A Cutting 1, sondage into C2 under C11 Southwest 23.08.17

8086 N/A Cutting 1, backfill Southeast 24.08.17

8087 C9 Cutting 2, final exposure C9 West 24.08.17

8088 C9 Cutting 2, final exposure C9 Southeast 24.08.17


Photo No.

Context

Description

Orientation

Date


8091 C8, C9 Cutting 2, final exposure C8, C9 East 25.08.17

8092 N/A Cutting 1, final backfill Southwest 25.08.17

8093 N/A Cutting 2, final backfill Southeast 25.08.17

9711 N/A Cutting 3, post excavation Southwest 24.08.18



9714 N/A Cutting 3, exposure of C16 layer Southwest 25.08.18

9723 N/A Cutting 3, exposure of C17 ditch feature South 25.08.18

9725 N/A Cutting 3, exposure of C17 ditch feature South 25.08.18

9727 N/A Cutting3, post excavation of C17 ditch feature South 25.09.18

APPENDIX 1.5 DRAWING REGISTER

Drawing No.

Type

Description

Date

1.1 Plan Plan of Cutting 1 24.08.17

1.2 Section Northwest facing section of Cutting 1 24.08.17


2.2 Section Southwest facing section of Cutting 2 24.08.17


3.2 Section Northwest facing section of Cutting 3 25.08.18

APPENDIX 2 SMALL FINDS REPORT BY SIOBHÁN SCULLY

POST-MEDIEVAL POTTERY

Eighty-six sherds of post-medieval pottery were recovered from the excavations at

Raheenacluig Church. The types of pottery recovered range in date from the 16th century to

the 20th century. The majority of the sherds are from wares imported from England although

a small number may be Irish, Welsh or Dutch. A wide range of ceramic forms were represented

within the post-medieval pottery assemblage and these are listed in the table below by pottery

type, date and origin, as well as quantifying each type of pottery found.

Type Sherds MNV MNR Form Date Range Origin

Fine black glazed red earthenware

1 1 1 Jug/mug/tyg 16th–E17thC English

Tin-glazed earthenware

1 0 1 Flatware? 16th–18thC Dutch/English/Irish

North Devon Gravel Tempered ware

8 2 4 Chamber pot; hollow vessels

17thC English

North Devon Gravel Free ware

1 1 1 Small hollow vessel 17thC English

Staffordshire-Bristol Slipware

2 2 2 Jug/mug/tyg; hollow vessel

mid-17thC–mid- 18thC

English


1 1 1 Jug/mug/tankard L17thC–mid-18thC English

Salt-glazed ware 1 1 1 Flatware c.1730s–c.1770s English

Black Stoneware 1 1 1 Hollow vessel 1720s – late 18thC English

Black glazed red earthenware

27 1 9 Hollow vessels L16thC–E20thC English/Irish/Welsh

Glazed red earthenware

1 1 1 Hollow vessel 18thC–19thC Irish/English

Unglazed red earthenware

3 1 1 Flowerpot(s) 19th Century Irish/English

Creamware 3 1 1 Flatware mid-18thC– E19thC

English

Whieldon/Astbury Ware

1 0 1 Teapot mid - late 18thC English

Pearlware 2 1 2 Jar; flatware L18th–19thC English

Transfer-printed ware, blue

8 2

Flatware Mid-18th–20thC English

Transfer-printed ware, brown

1 0 1 Plate 19th–20thC English

Transfer-printed ware, black

1 1 1 Flatware 19th–20thC English

Transfer-printed ware, grey


Transfer-printed ware, purple


Semi-porcelain 1 0 1 Hollow vessel 19th/20thC English

White Glazed Earthenware

24 3 4 Flatware; hollow vessels; cups

19th/20thC English

Green Glazed Earthenware

1 0 1 Coffee Pot(?) 20thC English?

TOTALS 94 24 40

Fine Black Glazed Red Earthenware

There is one handle sherd (4:9) of Fine Black Glazed Red Earthenware from the excavations

at Raheenacluig Church. It is a narrow loop handle from a small jug, mug or tyg and has an

internal and external glossy black glaze. This type of pottery was produced in Yorkshire and

the English Midlands during the 16th century (McCutcheon 2006, 172) and Ticknall in South

Derbyshire is known to have been an important produced of this ware (Boyle and Rowlandson

2009, 51).

Tin-glazed Earthenware

There is one small body sherd (4:6) of Tin-glazed Earthenware in the assemblage. It has a

plain white tin glaze on both faces. The manufacture of tin-glazed wares was established in

Antwerp by Italian potters shortly after 1500 and soon potteries were established in centres

such as Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Middelburg, Makkum and Delft (Lang 2000, 95). The

techniques for producing tin-glazed ware were brought to England by Huguenot refugees in

the 1560s with potteries initially established in Norwich and then in London. Other centres

were established in England and by the end of the 17th century in Belfast and Dublin too

(Francis 2000, 7–8). The tin-glazed earthenware sherd from Raheenacluig Church is possibly

from a piece of flatware but its origin cannot be discerned.

North Devon Wares

The North Devon potteries of Barnstable and Bideford were the centre of an important pottery

production area during the 16th and 17th centuries. They produced gravel tempered, gravel

free and sgraffito decorated wares. The fabric fired to a pink colour, although it was not always

completely oxidised, usually giving these wares a characteristic grey core or margin (Meenan

1997, 350; Gahan, McCutcheon and Twohig 1997, 145). Imports of this type of pottery rose

substantially during the middle of the seventeenth century (Meenan 1997, 349).

North Devon Gravel Tempered

There are six sherds of this ware from Raheenacluig Church. There are two rim sherds; one

(4:2) is flat everted rim which is possibly from a chamber pot and the other (4:3) is an everted

thick rim from a large hollow vessel. There is one base sherd (4:3) which is from a small hollow

vessel. There are three body sherds (1:1, 1:2, 4:4) all from hollow vessels with internal green

or brown mottled glazes. Two lid sherds (16:1-2) from small cylindrical vessels were recovered

from Cutting 3.


There is one base sherd (4:5) of this ware which is from a small hollow vessel. It has a flat

base with a rounded base angle and splaying sides and an internal green mottled glaze.

Staffordshire-Bristol Slipware

Staffordshire-Bristol slipware has a red or buff-coloured earthenware fabric coated with white

or reddish-brown slips and decorated with trailed, dotted and marbled designs. A lead glaze

was then applied which turned the areas with white slip yellow and those with the reddish-

brown slip a dark brown-black (Lang 2000, 127; Gahan, McCutcheon and Twohig 1997, 148).

There are two base sherds of this ware from Raheenacluig Church. One base sherd (1:3) is

from a hollow vessel with a slightly splayed base angle and an internal yellow glaze. The other

base sherd (4:8) is from a small hollow vessel, possibly a jug, mug or tyg and it has an internal

and external black glaze.


Brown glazed wares were being produced in Staffordshire and Bristol at the same time as the

slipwares (Gahan, McCutcheon and Twohig 1997, 148). These have a buff coloured fabric

and a brown glaze made streaky by the addition of manganese. They were produced in a

number of places in England, including Staffordshire and Lancashire and date to c. 1680–

1760. There is one handle sherd (4:7) of this ware from Raheenacluig Church. It is a small

fragment of a strap handle, probably from a jug, mug or tankard and it has an internal and

external brown manganese glaze.

Salt-glazed Ware

White salt-glazed stoneware was popular during the 18th century when it was used for

teawares as well as tankards, bowls and jugs (Draper 2001, 37). There is one base sherd

(9:1), possibly from a piece of flatware, of this ware from Raheenacluig Church.

Black Stoneware

This is a dry-bodied black stoneware first patented by Robert Shaw and produced in his pottery

in Burslem in Staffordshire in the 1720s but made popular by Josiah Wedgwood in the 1750s

(Hume 1969, 118, 121). There is one base sherd (4:31) of this ware from a hollow vessel from

Raheenacluig Church.


During the late 16th and 17th century large storage and food processing vessels of black

glazed earthenware began to be developed and were manufactured up until the 20th century.

At first these were imported from England and Wales but during the 18th century they began

to be made in Ireland (Meenan 1997, 349). There are 27 sherds of this ware in the post-

medieval pottery assemblage from Raheenacluig Church. There is one rim sherd (4:10) from

a hollow vessel which has an everted square rim and an internal and external black glaze.

There is one small fragment of a base sherd (6:1). There are 25 body sherds. Twenty-one of

these sherds have an internal and external black glaze. Six of these sherds from C4 (4:12–

17) have rilling on the exterior and have had manganese added to the black glaze giving it a

streaking appearance. These sherds are possibly from the same vessel. Three body sherds

(4:27–29) has a glossy internal and external black glaze and are possibly from the same

vessel. One sherd (1:4) have a black glaze on the interior only and two sherds (1:6, 4:26) have

an internal black glaze but are only half-glazed on the exterior, the former being a drippy glaze.

Unglazed Red Earthenware

There are three sherds of this ware from Raheenacluig Church. These included on rim sherd

from a hollow vessel, probably a flowerpot and two body sherds (1:13, 4:30) also from hollow

vessels.

Creamware

Creamware is a hard-fired cream-coloured earthenware which has been dipped in the clear

lead glaze which appears yellow or green around the basal rims where the glaze has pooled

(Hume 1969, 123; Lang 2000, 132). It was developed in Staffordshire during the 1730s but

soon its production began in other centres too, with the Leeds Pottery becoming the most

prolific (Draper 2001, 47). There are two sherds (4:41, 5:9) of this ware in the Raheenacluig

Church assemblage. They are all body sherds, probably from flatware.

Whieldon/Astbury Ware

This is a decorated variation of creamware. Thomas Whieldon and Thomas Astbury both

pioneered methods of perfecting hard-fired, pale-yellow or cream-coloured earthenwares.

When Josiah Wedgewood went into partnership with Whieldon in the late 1750s, they refined

the cream-coloured body but also produced an even-firing, rich green glaze in 1759 (Hume

1969, 123–4). There is one sherd (4:32) of this ware from Raheenacluig Church. It has an

external green glaze with sprigged decoration in white pipe clay.

Pearlware

During the 1760s and 1770s Wedgwood was developing a ware which would be whiter than

creamware. He increased the flint content of the body and added a small amount of cobalt to

the glaze and in 1776 he named this ware ‘pearlware’ (Hume 1969, 128). Pearlwares were

very popular during the 19th century (Draper 2001, 51). There are two sherds of this ware

from Raheenacluig Church. One is a base sherd (1:12) with a footring that is from a hollow

vessel, possibly a jar and the other is a body sherd (9:2) from a piece of flatware.

Transfer-printed Ware

Transfer printed pottery was developed in the mid-eighteenth century as a cheaper alternative

to Chinese porcelain (Sandon 2006, 40) and it continues in production to the present day.

Transfer-printing on creamwares began c. 1765 and on pearlwares c. 1787. Fifteen sherds of

transfer-printed ware were recovered from the excavations at Raheenacluig Church.

Transfer-printed ware, blue

There are eight sherds that were transfer-printed with patterns in blue. These include three

rim sherds (4:33–35) and two body sherds (4:36–37) with a blue willow pattern. This Chinese-

inspired design was developed by Josiah Spode around 1790/1 (www.spode.co.uk). There is

also one body sherd (1:7) which has a non-willow pattern, Chinese-style design. There is one

rim sherd (4:38) with a blue floral design and one body sherd (1:8) in blue where the pattern

cannot be discerned.

Transfer-printed ware, brown

There is one body sherd (4:40) from plate which has a brown diaper pattern.

Transfer-printed ware, black

There is one base sherd (9:3) from a piece of flatware which has a black pattern.

Transfer-printed ware, grey

There are two sherds from Raheenacluig Church which have grey transfer-printed patterns.

One is a rim sherd (4:39) from a plate which has a floral pattern and one is a body sherd (1:9)

which is from a piece of flatware.

Transfer-printed ware, purple

There are three sherds from Raheenacluig Church which have purple transfer-printed

patterns. There are two body sherds (1:10–11) from pieces of flatware which also have foliage

patterns.

Semi-porcelain

Semi-porcelain is a high temperature fired hard white ware. It is not as hard as porcelain but

is harder than earthenware. It dates to the 19th or 20th century. There is one body sherd (4:42)

of semi-porcelain from Raheenacluig Church which is from a hollow vessel

White Glazed Earthenware

These are white-glazed, hard refined earthenwares which are plain for the most part, although

some have decoration. They are 19th or 20th century in date. There are 24 sherds of this ware

from Raheenacluig Church. There are two handle sherds (1:16, 5:12) which are probably from

cups. There are five rim sherds; two (1:15, 9:4) are from hollow vessels, the latter probably

being a mug and the other three (5:11, 5:17–18) are from pieces of flatware. There are seven

base sherds, six (1:18, 5:13–16, 9:5) of which are from pieces of flatware and one (1:17) is

from a hollow vessel. There are 10 body sherds six of which are from hollow vessels and four

are from pieces of flatware.

Green Glazed Earthenware

There is one sherd (5:10) of this ware from Raheenacluig Church. It has a white earthenware

fabric, is ridged on the exterior and has an internal and external green glaze. The sherd

appears to be from a narrow hollow vessel with straight-sided wall, possibly something like a

coffee pot. The sherd is probably 20th-century in date and from a vessel produced by a studio

potter.

Catalogue of post-medieval pottery from Raheenacluig Church

Find No. Context Type Description

2017E0356:1:1 1 North Devon Gravel Tempered

Body sherd; hollow vessel; internal mottled green glaze


Body sherd; hollow vessel; internal brown mottled glaze

2017E0356:1:3 1 Staffordshire-Bristol Slipware Base sherd; hollow vessel; slightly splayed base angle; internal yellow glaze

2017E0356:1:4 1 Black Glazed Red Earthenware

Body sherd; hollow vessel; internal black glaze


Body sherd; hollow vessel; internal and external black glaze


Body sherd; hollow vessel; internal black glaze; external half glaze with drippy edge

2017E0356:1:7 1 Transfer-printed Ware Body sherd; flatware; blue chinoiserie pattern

2017E0356:1:8 1 Transfer-printed Ware Body sherd; flatware; blue pattern

2017E0356:1:9 1 Transfer-printed Ware Body sherd; flatware; grey pattern

2017E0356:1:10 1 Transfer-printed Ware Body sherd; flatware; purple foliage pattern

2017E0356:1:11 1 Transfer-printed Ware Body sherd; flatware; purple foliage pattern

2017E0356:1:12 1 Pearlware Base sherd; hollow vessel (jar?); footring

2017E0356:1:13 1 Unglazed Red Earthenware Body sherd; hollow vessel

2017E0356:1:14 1 Unglazed Red Earthenware Rim sherd; hollow vessel (flowerpot)

2017E0356:1:15 1 White Glazed Earthenware Rim sherd; hollow vessel

2017E0356:1:16 1 White Glazed Earthenware Handle sherd; small narrow handle probably from cup

2017E0356:1:17 1 White Glazed Earthenware Base sherd; hollow vessel

2017E0356:1:18 1 White Glazed Earthenware Base sherd; flatware


2017E0356:1:19 1 White Glazed Earthenware Body sherd; hollow vessel







Rim sherd; large hollow vessel; everted thick rim


Rim sherd; hollow vessel (probably chamber pot); everted flat rim; internal mottled green glaze


Base sherd; small hollow vessel; flat base with plain base angle; internal mottled green glaze


Body sherd; hollow vessel; internal mottled green glaze

2017E0356:4:5

4


Base sherd; small hollow vessel; flat base with rounded base angle and splaying sides; internal mottled green glaze

2017E0356:4:6 4 Tin-glazed Earthenware Body sherd; flatware?; plain white

2017E0356:4:7

4


Handle sherd; jug/mug/tankard; small fragment of strap handle; internal and external brown manganese glaze

2017E0356:4:8 4 Staffordshire-Bristol Slipware Base sherd; small hollow vessel, possibly jug/mug/tyg; internal and external black glaze

2017E0356:4:9 4 Fine Black Glazed Red Earthenware

Handle sherd; small jug/mug/tyg; narrow loop handle; internal and external glossy black glaze


Rim sherd; hollow vessel; everted square rim; internal and external black glaze

2017E0356:4:11

4


Body sherd; large hollow vessel; internal and external rilling; internal and external black glaze with manganese




Body sherd; hollow vessel; internal and external black glaze with manganese



























Body sherd; hollow vessel; internal rilling; internal black glaze; external black half glaze


Body sherd; internal and external glossy black glaze





2017E0356:4:30 4 Unglazed Red Earthenware Body sherd; hollow vessel

2017E0356:4:31 4 Black Stoneware Base sherd; hollow vessel; footring

2017E0356:4:32 4 Green-glazed Creamware Body sherd; hollow vessel (teapot?); external green glaze with white applied floral decoration

2017E0356:4:33 4 Transfer-printed Ware Rim sherd; plate; blue willow pattern



2017E0356:4:36 4 Transfer-printed Ware Body sherd; plate; blue willow pattern

2017E0356:4:37 4 Transfer-printed Ware Body sherd; plate; blue willow pattern

2017E0356:4:38 4 Transfer-printed Ware Rim sherd; plate; blue floral pattern

2017E0356:4:39 4 Transfer-printed Ware Rim sherd; plate; grey floral pattern

2017E0356:4:40 4 Transfer-printed Ware Body sherd; plate; brown diaper pattern

2017E0356:4:41 4 Creamware Body sherd; flatware

2017E0356:4:42 4 Semi-porcelain Body sherd; hollow vessel

2017E0356:5:9 5 Creamware Body sherd; flatware

2017E0356:5:10 5 Green Glazed Earthenware Body sherd; hollow vessel; ribbed on exterior; internal and external green glaze

2017E0356:5:11 5 White Glazed Earthenware Rim sherd; flatware

2017E0356:5:12 5 White Glazed Earthenware Handle sherd; cup







2017E0356:5:19 5 White Glazed Earthenware Body sherd; flatware


2017E0356:5:21 5 White Glazed Earthenware Body sherd; flatware; orange glaze on interior

2017E0356:9:1 9 Salt-glazed Ware Base sherd; flatware

2017E0356:9:2 9 Pearlware Body sherd; flatware

2017E0356:9:3 9 Transfer-printed Ware Base sherd; flatware; black pattern

2017E0356:9:4 9 White Glazed Earthenware Rim sherd; hollow vessel (mug?)



CERAMIC BUILDING MATERIALS

Six fragments of ceramic building materials were recovered from the excavations at

Raheenacluig Church. There are five fragments (9:7–11) of pantiles. Although pantiles were

in use in Britain since the 15th century, they only became popular for roofing in Ireland in the

late 17th century (Van Lemman 2004, 8; Wren 1995, 72). They are frequently found on

excavations in Ireland where they usually date to the 17th and 18th centuries (Wren 1997,

363). They are S-shaped tiles, combining both curved and flanged ends in one tile (Wren

2004, 456). One of the pantile fragments (9:7) from Raheenacluig Church has the remains of

a flanged end. A small fragment of ceramic pipe (5:22) was also recovered. It has a red

earthenware fabric with a dark red/brown glaze on the interior and exterior. This is probably

from a service pipe which is 19th- or 20th-century in date.

Catalogue of ceramic building materials from Raheenacluig Church

Find No. Context Type Description Dimensions

2017E0356:5:22

5

Ceramic Pipe

Fragment of ceramic pipe; red earthenware fabric with dark red/brown glaze on interior and exterior

L 47mm Wth 22nn Th 13mm

2017E0356:9:7 9 Pantile Fragment of pantile; flanged end L 77mm Wth 60mm Th 13mm

2017E0356:9:8 9 Pantile Small fragment of pantile L 69mm Wth 42mm Th 12mm




CLAY TOBACCO PIPES

There are seven fragments of clay tobacco pipes recovered from the excavations at Raheen.

There are four clay pipe bowls or bowl fragments. Three of the bowls are of a type that was

produced in either Ireland or England between c. 1690 and c. 1750. They are small bowls with

a curving front of bowl and straight back of bowl and have spur heels. They are similar to

Adrian Oswald’s type 17G of clay pipe bowls made in England between 1640 and 1670 but

they do not have the milling around the top of the bowl as this type usually does (1975, Fig. 4,

G). They are similar to bowls found during excavations at Skiddy’s Castle and Christ church

in Cork dated between 1690 and 1750 which Sheila Lane categorised as being of Irish

manufacture (1997, 231–3). They are also similar to spurred bowls from Patrick Street, Dublin

which Joe Norton dated to between 1660–80 and c. 1680–1700 (1997, 183–4, Fig. 86:2, Fig.

86:4). There is one other bowl fragment (4:46) from Raheen which has milling around the top

of the rim but cannot be closely dated. There are three fragments of clay pipe stems in the

Raheen assemblage all of which are plain and cannot be closely dated.

Catalogue of clay tobacco pipes from Raheenacluig Church


2017E0356:1:25 1 Clay Pipe Stem Fragment of clay pipe stem; plain L 63mm Diam. 6mm


2017E0356:4:43 4 Clay Pipe Bowl Small plain bowl; spur heel; 1690– 1750

H 30.5mm Diam. 17mm

2017E0356:4:44 4 Clay Pipe Bowl Small plain bowl; spur heel; 1690– 1750

H 27mm Diam. 19mm


2017E0356:4:45 4 Clay Pipe Bowl Small plain bowl; 1690–1750 H 35mm Diam. 20mm

2017E0356:4:46 4 Clay Pipe Bowl Fragment of clay pipe bowl; milling around top of rim

H 35mm Diam. 22mm


GLASS

There were two sherds of glass recovered from the excavations at Raheen. There are two

body sherds (9:12) of dark green glass which are probably from wine bottles but which can

only be given a general date range of between the 17th century and the 19th century. There

is one body sherd (5:1) of aqua green glass which is embossed on the side and is probably

from a mineral water or soda bottle which dates to the end of the 19th century or the early 20th

century.

Catalogue of glass artefacts from Raheenacluig Church


2017E0356:5:1 5 Mineral Water/Soda Bottle Body sherd; aqua green glass; embossed on side '...ANS'

2017E0356:9:12 9 Wine Bottle Very small body sherd; dark green glass

METAL

A total of 43 metal objects were recovered from the excavations at Raheenacluig Church.

These included objects of silver, copper alloy, lead and iron. The objects included coins, a

bullet cartridge, nails, pegs, a strap, a bar, wire, unidentified iron artefacts and metal waste

and scrap.

Coins

There are four coins in the Raheenacluig Church assemblage. One is a British silver shilling

of George V (9:13) dated to 1936. There is an Irish 1p coin (5:3) from 1982 and an Irish 5p

coin (5:2) also dated 1982. There is an Irish 20p coin (1:28) dating to 1995.

Cartridge

A copper alloy shotgun cartridge (9:14) was recovered from Raheenacluig Church. It bears

the maker’s name ‘TRULOCK & HARRIS’. This refers to a company in Dublin who

manufactured firearms. It was established by William Trulock in 1814 but he was joined by his

son-in-low, Harris around 1840 when the company was renamed ‘Turlock & Harris’

(ancestory.com).

Iron Nails

Twenty iron nails were recovered from the excavations at Raheen. The forms of head and

shanks of the nails are summarised in the table below:

Nail Head Type Total Heads Shanks

F

lat

Ra

ise

d

Bu

rre

d

Un

kn

ow

n

Re

cta

ng

ula

r

Sq

ua

re

Cir

cu

lar

Cle

nc

he

d

Rectangular 4 4 2 4

Square 2 2 1 1 1

Sub-Square 1 1 1

Pyramidal 1 1 1

Irregular 3 3 3

Head Encrusted 1 1 1

Shanks 4 4

Small Nails/Tacks

Oval 1 1 1

Rectangular 1 1 1

Sub-Rectangular 1 1 1

Irregular 1 1 1 1

The flat headed nails would have been used when the head needed to be flush with the

surface, such as with floor boards, while the head of the pyramidal nail would have been

used where the nail-head was meant to be seen, possibly for decorative purposes, such

as on furniture (Thomson, Grew and Schofield 1984, 94). A small number of the nail heads

burred after being struck. The small iron nails or tacks could have been used on items of

fabric, leather or wood (Groves 1990, 1105).

Iron Pegs

Three iron pegs (4:62, 5:5–6) were recovered from Raheen. They all have a looped head

and shank which is circular in section. They would have been suitable for securing the guy

rope of a tent.

Iron Strap

A single iron strap (5:7) was recovered from the excavations at Raheen. It is rectangular

and flat. It could have been used to support a door, gate or shutter.

Iron Bar

A length of iron bar (5:4) from Raheen is circular in section and it also has a small length

of iron attached at right angles. It may have been used to support a gate or something

similar.

Iron Wire

There are four fragments of iron wire (1:35–36, 4:63–64) from the excavations at Raheen.

The fragments from C1 are composed of two lengths of iron twisted and are probably

fragments of barbed wire. The fragments from C4 are single short lengths of iron wire

which are circular in section.

Unidentified Iron Objects

Three iron objects from Raheen could not be identified. One (4:65) is a small fragment,

possibly from a mesh fence, one (4:66) is a strip of iron which is curved and sub-

rectangular in section and has a notch cut in the metal towards one end and one (4:67) is

a small strip of iron.

Metal Waste and Scrap

Six objects from the excavations at Raheen can be classified as metal waste and scrap.

There is one curved fragment of copper alloy scrap (1:29) with torn edges and a small

fragment of copper alloy waste (11:4) which is irregular in shape. There are two irregularly-

shaped lumps of lead (4:68–69). There are two fragments of iron sheet metal. One (11:2)

is flat and sub- rectangular in shape and the other (11:3) is a small fragment of sheet metal.

Catalogue of silver from Raheenacluig Church


2017E0356:9:13

9

Silver Coin

Silver coin; circular flan; milling around edge; obv: bust facing left 'GEORGIVS V DEI GRA : BRITT : OMN : REX'; Rev: crowned lion on crown 'DEF . FID . IMP. IND. 1936 . ONE . SHILLING'


Catalogue of copper alloy artefacts from Raheenacluig Church


2017E0356:1:28

1

Copper Alloy Coin

Copper alloy coin; circular flan with milling around edge of flan; obv: horse '20p'; rev: harp '1995 / EIRE'


2017E0356:1:29 1 Copper Alloy Scrap Curved fragment of copper alloy scrap; edges are torn

53mm x 44mm x 0.5mm

2017E0356:5:2

5

Copper Alloy Coin

Coin with circular flan; milled around edge; obv: bull '5p'; rev: harp 'EIRE' '1982'

Diam. 23.5mm Th 1mm

2017E0356:5:3 5 Copper Alloy Coin Coin with circular flan; obv: peacock '1p'; rev: harp 'EIRE' '1982'

Diam. 20mm Th 1mm


2017E0356:9:14

9

Copper Alloy Cartridge

Copper alloy shotgun cartridge; 'TRULOCK & HARRISON / DUBLIN / NO. 12'

2017E0356:11:4 11 Copper Alloy Waste Small fragment of copper alloy waste; irregular in shape

L 22.5mm Wth 14mm Th 12mm

Catalogue of lead artefacts from Raheenacluig Church


2017E0356:4:68 4 Lump of Lead Irregularly shaped lump of lead L 59mm Wth 17mm Th 11mm

2017E0356:4:69 4 Lump of Lead Irregularly shaped lump of lead L 41mm Wth 20mm Th 10mm

Catalogue of iron artefacts from Raheenacluig Church


2017E0356:1:30

1

Iron Nail

Iron nail; irregular flat head; shank rectangular in section; expanded point

L 86mm Head: 21mm x 14.5mm Shank: 10mm x 7.5mm

2017E0356:1:31 1 Iron Nail Iron nail; square flat head; shank circular in section

L 69mm Head: 18mm x 18mm Shank diam. 11mm

2017E0356:1:32

1

Iron Nail

Iron nail; sub-square head; shank rectangular in section


2017E0356:1:33

1

Iron Nail

Iron nail; small rectangular head; shank rectangular in section

L 45mm Head: 9.5mm x 6.5mm Shank: 5.5mm x 3.5mm

2017E0356:1:34 1 Iron Nail Shank of iron nail; rectangular in section; bent

L 62mm Wth 6.5mm Th 5.5mm

2017E0356:1:35 1 Iron Wire Fragment of iron wire; two lengths of iron twisted; lengths are circular in section


2017E0356:1:36 1 Iron Wire Fragment of iron wire; two lengths of iron twisted; lengths are circular in section


2017E0356:4:48

4

Iron Nail



2017E0356:4:49

4

Iron Nail

Iron nail; possible pyramidal head; shank rectangular in section

L 82mm Head: 10mm x 5.5mm x 3.5mm Shank: 6.5mm x 4.5mm

2017E0356:4:50

4

Iron Nail

Iron nail; irregular flat head; shank rectangular in section

L 57mm Head: 21mm x 15mm Shank: 4.5mm x 3.5mm

2017E0356:4:51

4

Iron Nail

Iron nail; square burred head; shank rectangular in section

L 65mm Head: 6.5mm x 6.5mm Shank: 5mm x 3.5mm

2017E0356:4:52 4 Iron Nail Iron nail; rectangular burred head; shank rectangular in section


2017E0356:4:53 4 Iron Nail Iron nail; shank fragment; rectangular in section


2017E0356:4:54

4

Iron Nail

Iron nail; irregular head; shank rectangular in section


2017E0356:4:55

4

Iron Nail

Iron nail; rectangular flat head; shank rectangular in section


2017E0356:4:56 4 Iron Nail Iron nail/tack; sub-rectangular slightly burred head; shank rectangular in section



2017E0356:4:57

4

Iron Nail

Iron nail/tack; rectangular flat head; shank square in section

L 33.5mm Head: 11mm x 8mm Shank: 4.5mm x 4.5mm

2017E0356:4:58

4

Iron Nail

Iron nail/tack; irregular head; shank rectangular in section; clenched point?

L 28mm Head: 17mm x 11mm Shank: 5mm x 3.5mm

2017E0356:4:59 4 Iron Nail Iron nail; head encrusted; shank rectangular in section

L 39.5mm Head: 15mm x 7mm Shank: 6mm x 5mm

2017E0356:4:60 4 Iron Nail Iron nail; shank fragment; rectangular in section

L 33.5mm Wth 9mm Th 8.5mm

2017E0356:4:61 4 Iron Nail Iron nail; shank fragment; rectangular in section; clenched point


2017E0356:4:62 4 Iron Peg Iron peg; looped head; circular in section L 190mm Diam. 6.5mm

2017E0356:4:63 4 Iron Wire Fragment of iron wire; bent in two places; circular in section

L 196mm Diam. 3.5mm

2017E0356:4:64 4 Iron Wire Short length of iron wire; circular in section

L 56.5mm Diam. 3.5mm

2017E0356:4:65 4 Iron Object Small iron object; possible fragment of mesh fence


2017E0356:4:66

4

Iron Object

Strip of iron; sub-rectangular in section; curved; notch cut in metal towards one end


2017E0356:4:67 4 Iron Object Sall strip of iron L 44.5mm Wth 15mm Th 3mm

2017E0356:5:4

5

Iron Bar

Iron bar; circular in section; small length of iron attached at right angles, also circular in section

L 209mm Diam. 10mm

2017E0356:5:5 5 Iron Peg Iron peg; looped head, loop almost closed; circular in section

L 170mm Diam. 4mm

2017E0356:5:6 5 Iron Peg Iron peg; looped head; circular in section L 109mm Diam. 8mm

2017E0356:5:7 5 Iron Strap Iron strap; rectangular and flat; circular perforation at either end

L 76mm Wth 29.5mm Th 3mm Diam. of perf. 7mm

2017E0356:11:1

11

Iron Nail

Iron nail/tack; oval flat head; shank rectangular in section

L 33mm Head: 13.5mm x 10mm Shank: 6mm x 5mm

2017E0356:11:2 11 Iron Sheet Metal

Fragment of iron sheet metal; sub- rectangular in shape; flat

L 54.5mm Wth 34.5mm Th 1.5mm

2017E0356:11:3 11 Iron Sheet Metal

Small fragment of iron sheet metal L 37mm Wth 18mm Th 2mm

BONE ARTEFACT

A single artefact of skeletal material was recovered from the excavations at Raheen. This

is a bone handle for a piece of flatware which had a whittle-tang, part of which is still in

situ. The handle is roughly rectangular in shape and in section. The handle cannot be

closely dated but is from the post-medieval period.

Catalogue of worked skeletal material from Raheenacluig Church


2017E0356:1:27

1

Bone Handle

Bone handle; whittle-tang with part of tang in situ; roughly rectangular in shape with rounded end; rectangular in section

L 68mm Wth 11– 12mm Th 7.8mm

SLATE

There were five fragments (1:37–38, 4:70–71, 9:15) of roofing slates recovered from the

excavations at Raheen. Slates were first used for roofing Ireland during the 13th century

(O’Donnell 2002, 61). The slates would have been attached by means of a wooden peg

or metal nail through a perforation in the slate. The slate fragments from Raheen are a

homogenous grey slate which are all very small and fragmentary and none of an

attachment perforation remaining.

Catalogue of roofing slate from Raheenacluig Church


2017E0356:1:37 1 Roofing Slate Small fragment of roofing slate; grey in colour

54mm x 21mm x 2mm


44mm x 24mm x 4mm







PLASTIC

A plastic bottle stopper (5:8) was recovered from the excavations at Raheen. The stopper

has a circular flat top which is milled around the edges and there are corkscrew ridges on

the stopper. The manufactures name is on the top of the stopper. The manufacturer was

W. J. Briggs of Belfast who produced aerated mineral water from the first decade of the 20th

century until about 1970.

Catalogue of plastic stopper from Raheenacluig Church


2017E0356:5:8

5

Plastic Stopper

Plastic stopper for soda bottle; circular flat top, milled around edge; corkscrew ridges on stopper; top of stopper 'SOFT DRINKS / 61 / BRIGGS / BELFAST'

H 32mm Diam. 29.5mm

REFERENCES

Boyle, A. and Rowlandson, I. 2009 A Midlands Purple and Cistercian ware kiln at Church

Lane, Ticknall, South Derbyshire, Medieval Ceramics 30, 49–59.

Draper, J. 2001 Post-Medieval Pottery 1650–1800. Shire Publications, Princes Risborough.

Francis, P. 2000 Irish Delftware: an illustrated history. Jonathan Horne Publications,

London. Gahan, A., McCutcheon, C. and Twohig, D.C. et al 1997 Late Medieval

and Post-Medevial/Modern Pottery. In R.M. Cleary, M.F. Hurley and E. Shee Twohig

Skiddy’s Castle and Christ Church Cork: Excavations 1974–77 by D.C. Twohig, 130–158.

Cork Corporation, Cork.

Groves, M. 1990 Silver and Copper-Alloy Tacks. In M. Biddle, Object and Economy in

Medieval Winchester, 1102–1114. Clarendon Press, Oxford.

Hume, I.N. 1969 A Guide to Artifacts of Colonial America. Philadelphia, University of

Pennsylvania Press.

Lane, S. 1997 Clay Pipes. In R.M. Cleary, M.F. Hurley and E. Shee Twohig, Skiddy’s

Castle and Christchurch Cork; Excavations 1974–1977 by D.C. Twohig, 224–238.

Cork Corporation, Cork.

Lang, G. 2000 Miller’s Pottery Antiques Checklist. 1st ed. 1995. London, Miller’s.

McCutcheon, C. 2006 Medieval Pottery from Wood Quay, Dublin. Royal Irish Academy,

Dublin.

Meenan, R. 1997 Post-Medieval Pottery. In M.F. Hurley, O.M.B. Scully and S.W.J.

McCutcheon (eds), Late Viking Age and Medieval Waterford: Excavations 1986–

1992, 338–55. Waterford Corporation, Waterford.

Norton, J. 1997 Clay Pipes. In C. Walsh Archaeological Excavations at Patrick, Nicholas

& Winetavern Streets Dublin. Brandon, Dingle.

O’Donnell, M.G. 2002 Excavations at James Fort, Kinsale, 1974–98. Journal of the Cork

Historical and Archaeological Society 107, 1–70.

Oswald, A. 1975 Clay Pipes for the Archaeologist. BAR 14.

Thompson, A., Grew, F. and Schofield, J. 1984 ‘Excavations at Aldgate, 1974.’ Post-

Medieval Archaeology 18, 1–148.

Van Lemman, H. 2004 Medieval Tiles. Princes Risborough. Shire Publications Ltd.

Wren, J. 1995 ‘Clay Building Material’ in L. Simpson, Excavations at Essex Street West,

Dublin, 68–73. Dublin, Temple Bar Properties.

Wren, J. 1997 The Roof Tiles. In Hurley, M.F. and Scully, O.M.B. Late Viking Age and

Medieval Waterford: excavations 1986–1992, 361–365. Waterford, Waterford

Corporation,

Wren, J. 2004 Roof, Floor and Wall Tiles. In FitzPatrick, E., O’Brien, M. and Walsh, P.

(eds.), Archaeological Invesgations in Galway City 1987–1998, 452–459. Bray,

Wordwell.

‘The Willow Story’ [online] available at: http://www.spode.co.uk/history/history_willow.html

[accessed 26.11.2007].

‘Trulock/Truelock Families of fDublin’ [online] available at:

https://www.ancestry.com/boards/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m=9111&p=localities.britisles.ire

land.dubl.general [accessed 01.02.2018].

http://www.spode.co.uk/history/history_willow.html

http://www.ancestry.com/boards/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m=9111&p=localities.britisles.ireland

http://www.ancestry.com/boards/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m=9111&p=localities.britisles.ireland

APPENDIX 3 LITHICS REPORT BY SHANE DELANEY

INTRODUCTION

Three lithic artefacts were recovered from two contexts during the archaeological

investigations in Trenches 1 and 2 at Raheenacluig Church (Table 1).

Table 1 Composition of the lithic assemblage from Raheen, County Wicklow

Fin

d

Co

nte

xt

Ma

teri

al

Ty

pe

Co

rte

x

Le

ng

th (

mm

)

Wid

th (

mm

)

De

pth

(m

m)

Co

mp

lete

Re

tou

ch

No

tes

1:39

1

Chert

Scraper

Tertiary

32

25

8

Yes

Yes

Chert flake with two utilised edges with abrupt retouch. May have been used as a scraper.

1:40 1 Chert Chunk Tertiary 28 14 7 Yes No Debitage flake

9:16

9

Sandstone

Stone

77

69

18

Yes

No

Flat and angular coarse-grained sandstone. May have been used as a hone and has striations from sharpening on one face.

METHODOLOGY

The lithic artefacts were examined visually. The following detail was recorded for the artefact;

length or width: context information, raw material type, artefact type, the presence of cortex,

artefact condition, length, width and thickness measurements, fragmentation and the type of

retouch (where applicable). The technological criteria recorded are based on the terminology

and technology presented in Inizan et al. 1999. The general typological and morphological

classifications are based on Woodman et al. 2006.

QUANTIFICATION

The assemblage consists of three artefacts.

PROVENANCE

The lithics were recovered from two contexts from two test trenches.

CONDITION

The lithics were found in good to fair condition.

DATING

The two chert artefacts (17E0356:1:39–40) could have been produced at any time from

the Neolithic to Bronze Age periods. Parallels to the scraper can be found from both the

Neolithic and Early Bronze Age periods.

CONSERVATION

Lithics do not require specific conversation, but should be stored in a dry, stable

environment. Preferably, each lithic should be bagged separately and contact with other

lithics should be avoided, so as to prevent damage and breakage, in particular edge

damage which could later be misinterpreted as retouch. Larger and heavier items are best

kept in individual boxes to avoid crushing of smaller assemblage pieces.

DISCUSSION

The presence of waste items and flakes indicates that tool manufacture was being carried

out at Raheenacluig Church. The scraper indicates that hides were probably being

processed at the site but does not necessarily indicate a long-term camp site. The lithic

finds from Raheenacluig Church show a presence in the area during the Neolithic and/or

Early Bronze Age periods and is a useful contribution to settlement identification in the

area.

REFERENCES

Delaney, S. 2000 An Investigation into the Availability of Flint as a Raw Material along the

South-East Coast of Ireland and an Examination of a Collection of Flint Artefacts

from the same Area. Unpublished MA Thesis, NUI Cork.

Inizan, M.-L., M. Reduron-Ballinger, H. Roche and J. Tixier 1999 Technology and

Terminology of Knapped Stone 5. CREP, Nanterre.

Woodman, P. C., Finlay, N. and Anderson, E. 2006 The Archaeology of a Collection: The

Keiller-Knowles Collection of the National Museum of Ireland. National Museum of

Ireland Monograph Series 2. Wordwell, Bray.

APPENDIX 4 ANIMAL BONE REPORT BY MARGARET MCCARTHY

The excavations at Raheen yielded a negligible amount of animal bone. These were

recovered from the upper fill (C19) of a possible medieval ditch. Both bones are well

preserved and clearly represent primary refuse deposits incorporated into the backfill

deposits of the ditch. In all, two fragments of bone were recovered. One of these is

identified as a portion of the horizontal ramus of a mandible from an adult cow. All three

molars are erupted and in wear. The other specimen is a complete lower molar from an

adult horse.

APPENDIX 5 RADIOCARBON DATING BY 14CHRONO CENTRE

2B

2A

1B

1A

Title

Project

Site location

Raheenacluig Church, Newcourt,

Bray, Co. Wicklow

RMP WI008-004

Nat. Mon. 262

Scale: 1:2,500

Date: 01.05.19

Drawn by: MT

Fig. 1

Rev. 1

Licence: 17E0356

0m 100mScale

2017 Excavation

Cuttings 1 & 2

2018 Excavation

Cutting 3

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LS

AutoCAD SHX Text

LS

AutoCAD SHX Text

LS

AutoCAD SHX Text

H

AutoCAD SHX Text

Mh

AutoCAD SHX Text

H

AutoCAD SHX Text

Mh

AutoCAD SHX Text

Mh

AutoCAD SHX Text

Naylor's Cove

AutoCAD SHX Text

Periwinkle Rocks

AutoCAD SHX Text

Flat Rock

AutoCAD SHX Text

Flat Rock

AutoCAD SHX Text

Fontenoy Terrace

AutoCAD SHX Text

Fontenoy Terrace

AutoCAD SHX Text

PARK

AutoCAD SHX Text

PARK

AutoCAD SHX Text

RAHEEN

AutoCAD SHX Text

RAHEEN

AutoCAD SHX Text

RAHEEN

AutoCAD SHX Text

RAHEEN

AutoCAD SHX Text

GROSVENOR

AutoCAD SHX Text

GROSVENOR

AutoCAD SHX Text

AVENUE

AutoCAD SHX Text

AVENUE

AutoCAD SHX Text

LAWN

AutoCAD SHX Text

LAWN

AutoCAD SHX Text

RAHEEN

AutoCAD SHX Text

RAHEEN

AutoCAD SHX Text

PARK

AutoCAD SHX Text

PARK

AutoCAD SHX Text

LS

AutoCAD SHX Text

LS

AutoCAD SHX Text

LS

AutoCAD SHX Text

LS

AutoCAD SHX Text

LS

AutoCAD SHX Text

LS

AutoCAD SHX Text

LS

AutoCAD SHX Text

LS

AutoCAD SHX Text

Sand

AutoCAD SHX Text

Sand

AutoCAD SHX Text

Sand

AutoCAD SHX Text

Sand

AutoCAD SHX Text

Crab Rock

AutoCAD SHX Text

Sand & Shingle

AutoCAD SHX Text

Golf Course

AutoCAD SHX Text

Raheenacluig

AutoCAD SHX Text

Church

AutoCAD SHX Text

(in Ruins)

AutoCAD SHX Text

Steps

Title

Project

Historic OS mapping and Google

Earth Imagery of site


Bray, Co. Wicklow

RMP WI008-004

Nat. Mon. 262

Scale: As

Shown

Date: 01.05.19

Drawn by: MT

Fig. 2

Rev. 1

Licence: 17E0356

0m 100mScale

6-inch OS map Wicklow Sheet 8 (1838), N.T.S. Google Earth Satellite Imagery (May 2017)

25-inch OS map Wicklow Sheet 8-02 (1909), N.T.S.

NTS

NTS

Cutting 2

Cutting 1

Church

727580 E

717650 N

727580 E

717620 N

727610 E

717620 N

727610 E

717650 N

Cutting 3

Title

Project

Location of Cuttings 1-3

Inset showing results of

geophysical survey


Bray, Co. Wicklow

RMP WI008-004

Nat. Mon. 262

Date: 01.05.19

Drawn by: MT

Fig. 3

Rev. -

Licence: 17E0356

Scale:1:250 @A4

0m 10mScale 1:250

Inset showing interpretation of Geophysical Survey

AutoCAD SHX Text

Raheenacluig

50.676

L

im

it

o

f

e

x

c

a

v

a

t

io

n

C10

S

o

n

d

a

g

e

50.781

50.654

C13

Bedrock

C7

S

o

n

d

a

g

e

50.676

50.386

51.236

51.336

C11

50.561

C12

Cutting 1

1B

1A

727600 E

717635 N

727595 E

717635 N

727600 E

717640 N

727595 E

717640 N

50.306

51.956

51.810

50.491

50.468

50.468

1A

1B

Northw

est facing section of C

utting 1

C10

C12

C13

C4

C1

C11

C3

C7

C2

51.956

Title

Project

Plan and Section of Cutting 1


Bray, Co. Wicklow

RMP WI008-004

Nat. Mon. 262

Scale: 1:50 @A4

Date: 16.03.18

Drawn by: MT

Fig. 4

Rev. -

Licence: 17E0356

0m 2.5mScale 1:50

Legend

Section

Cut number

Level - meters OD

National Grid Reference

XXXXXX E

XXXXXX N

XX.XX

CXX

Fill numberCXX

Stone

0m

2.5m

Scale 1:50

Cutting 2

L

im

it o

f e

x

c

a

v

a

tio

n

C8

2B

53.416

2A

Church

Wall

52.906

53.106

C9

Not

Excavated

C2

727590 E

717640 N

727590 E

717635 N

727585 E

717635 N

727585 E

717640 N

S

o

n

d

a

g

e

52.981

53.021

52.716

53.271

53.474

53.232

53.202

53.170

53.118

C15

North-northeast facing section of Cutting 2

2A

C5

C1

C9

2B

52.716

53.176

C14

Title

Project

Plan and Section of Cutting 2


Bray, Co. Wicklow

RMP WI008-004

Nat. Mon. 262

Scale:As shown

Date: 16.03.18

Drawn by: MT

Fig. 5

Rev. -

Licence: 17E0356

0m 2.5mScale 1:50

0m 1mScale 1:25

Legend

Section

Cut number

Level - meters OD


XXXXXX E

XXXXXX N

XX.XX

CXX

Fill numberCXX

Stone

727585 E

717620 N

727590 E

717620 N

727590 E

717615 N

55.174

Ditch C17

C18

3A

3B

57.573

57.964

56.710

56.611

Church

Wall

Title

Project

Plan of Cutting 3


Bray, Co. Wicklow

RMP WI008-004

Nat. Mon. 262

Scale: 1:75 @A4

Date: 01.05.19

Drawn by: MT

Fig. 6

Rev. -

Licence: 17E0356

Legend

Section

Cut number

Level - meters OD


XXXXXX E

XXXXXX N

XX.XX

CXX

Fill numberCXX

Stone

0m 3m

Scale 1:75

C17

C19

3B

57.964

C15

C16

C18

C1

7

C1

9

3A

No

rth

we

st fa

cin

g se

ctio

n o

f C

uttin

g 3

C1

5

55

.1

74

Title

Project

Section of Cutting 3


Bray, Co. Wicklow

RMP WI008-004

Nat. Mon. 262

Scale: 1:50 @A4

Date: 01.05.19

Drawn by: MT

Fig. 7

Rev. -

Licence: 17E0356

Legend

Section

Cut number

Level - meters OD

XX.XX

CXX

Fill numberCXX

Stone

0m 2.5mScale 1:50

Title

Project

Illustration of worked stone in

door ope of church

(Drawn by Sharon Wells)


Bray, Co. Wicklow

RMP WI008-004

Nat. Mon. 262

Scale:1:50 @A4

Date: 01.05.19

Drawn by: MT

Fig. 8

Rev. -

Licence: 17E0356

0cm 50cmScale 1:10

Documents

THE MEDIEVAL BRAY PROJECT EXCAVATIONS AT ......2020/08/17 · EXCAVATIONS AT RAHEENACLUIG CHURCH NEWCOURT, BRAY, CO. WICKLOW (WI008-004, NAT. MON. 262) FINAL REPORT LICENCE REF.: