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| Excavation of three Neolithic houses in Corbally, Co. Kildare |
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Avril Purcell
(Posted 08.01.02) Summary |
 In 1998, three Neolithic houses and associated features were identified and fully excavated in Corbally, Co. Kildare, on the site of a modern quarry. Six radiocarbon dates for very small samples of charred organic remains, either cereal grains or hazelnut shell, returned from Groningen, the Netherlands, ranged from approximately 3625 BC to 3800 BC. One date returned for some charcoal from House 1 by the Beta Analytic Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory in the United States was as early as 5220 ± 80 BP. Given that the houses were built with oak timbers, the possibility that old wood was reused in their construction must be considered. The most surprising characteristic of the house remains was their similarity. All three were post-and-plank-built houses;  all showed remarkably similar orientation, morphology, construction, chronology and, where present, modification. The finds from the three houses were also comparable. Thus, the houses appear to have been constructed within a short period of time to similar specifications (depth of foundations, internal layout, location of entrances, etc.).  While the houses may have been constructed and occupied concurrently or consecutively, possibly by an extended family group, a strong case can be made for the contemporary occupation of the three houses, particularly given the radiocarbon dates returned, the similarities between the ceramic and lithic assemblages and the similar macrofossil and charcoal results. |