Newtownbalregan basement
The basement of Newtownbalregan is located on the ring fort of Newtownbalregan in County Louth , Ireland . The townland of Newtownbalregan ( Irish Baile Nua Dealgan ) is west of Dundalk , above the road that led from Dundalk to the Castletown River.
It is one of the basements discovered in Balriggan, Carn More, Newtownbalregan and Tateetra townlands during the construction of the M1 , and one of 14 basements excavated in basement- rich County Louth by 1998. The associated ring fort from the 6th or 7th century, about 45.0 m in diameter, was destroyed in the Middle Ages , perhaps to ensure that no one could use it as a base against Dundalk .
In the case of basements , a distinction is made between “earth-cut”, “rock-cut”, “mixed”, “stone built” and “wooden” (e.g. Coolcran, County Fermanagh ). The zigzag , approximately 45.0 m long “stone built” basement was too big to fit into the earthwork. The secondary part of a decorated stone was located under the capstones of the basement. The trumpet pattern could be Stone Age , but the paisley pattern could be Iron Age .
Much of the ring fort appeared to be an empty room. However, it was possible to identify the location of buildings and debris or leftover food thrown into part of the surrounding trench. There was a large entrance to the east and a small one that led to the adjacent basement. Rich finds in the ring fort show that it was no ordinary advice. The quality of the basement, the brooch and the decorated glass beads also show that the location was associated with Dundalk ( Irish : Dún Dealgan ).
The Farrandreg basement is nearby .
purpose
The purpose of the basement is not entirely unknown since the Windwick excavation. Interpretations as defensive structures, stables or storage facilities were rejected. Most likely a cultic function.
Basement goods
Finds in basement are rare. However, found in several, e.g. B. Downview, in Westpark, near Belfast , flat pottery, which, although not datable, apparently dates from early Christian times in the northeastern part of the island. It is called Basement Ware , although it is more numerous in ring forts like Lissue and Ballyaghagan in County Antrim and in Crannógs like that in Lough Faughan in County Down or in settlements.
See also
literature
- D. Bayley, N. Roycroft: Souterrain City Newtownbalregan, Co. Louth, pp. 24-27 In: Archeology Ireland Vol. 17.4 Winter 2003.
- Mark Clinton: The Souterrains of Ireland . Wordwell, Bray Co. Wicklow 2001, ISBN 1-869857-49-6
- Jürgen E. Walkowitz: The megalithic syndrome. European cult sites of the Stone Age (= contributions to the prehistory and early history of Central Europe. Vol. 36). Beier & Beran, Langenweißbach 2003, ISBN 3-930036-70-3 .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ Ian Armit: The abandonment of Souterrains: evolution, catastrophe or dislocation? In: Proc Soc Antiq Scot . tape 129 (1999) , pp. 577-596 ( online [PDF]).
- ↑ http://www.orkneyjar.com/archaeology/2007/09/09/a-fresh-look-at-orkneys-earth-houses/