Causewayed enclosure by Magheraboy
The Causewayed enclosure of Magheraboy is an early Neolithic between 4000 and 3800 BC. Enclosed 1.7 hectares in size. It is located on the summit of a long elevation in the townland Magheraboy ( Irish An Machaire Buí ) near Sligo in County Sligo in Ireland .
The stone packings of their palisade, on the north and south sides, were cut into during road construction work on the N4, which proves the large enclosure. Outside the palisade ring was a ring of trenches and earth walls, which were separated by transitions. Enclosures of this or a similar type are found mainly in Great Britain and on the continent, but only a few examples in Ireland.
There is no general explanation for the function of these Causewayed camp or earthwork facilities. Many archaeologists believe that they were places for ceremonies or rituals, while others think they were cattle markets or meeting places for the dispersed community.
The trenches of the enclosure were with earth and Early Neolithic artifacts , such as machined quartz crystals , arrowheads from flint filled and pottery. Even a single damaged (over 7000 previously found in Ireland) porcellanite - ax was recovered. Porcelainite is a hard, blue-green rock that resembles unglazed porcelain in appearance . Tievebulliagh and Brockley on Rathlin Island (both in County Antrim ) are known as mining locations in Ireland . Fifty-five pits discovered within the wall contained other early Neolithic artifacts, including blades, scrapers and pottery .
To the west of the enclosure is a small hill fort from the Iron Age , dating from 370 BC to C14. Was determined.
A medieval ring fort 40 m in diameter, surrounded by a moat, is located near the highest point. It was built between 570 and 880 AD.
literature
- Ed Danaher: Monumental beginnings: the archeology of the N4 Sligo Inner Relief Road (NRA Scheme Monograph 1). 2007 ISBN 978-1-905569-15-1
Web links
- English report (PDF; 2.6 MB)
Coordinates: 54 ° 15 ′ 46.8 " N , 8 ° 28 ′ 55.6" W.