- Ireland: A World without the Romans -
annexes had once stood there and these dated to the later stages of the Bronze Age
and the earlier Iron Age. They may have been purely domestic but it is not impos-
sible that already at this period the site had acquired a ritual character. Few would,
however, doubt that the great, multi-ringed circular building, which succeeded the
annexed structures, was ritual in purpose. This construction (Figure 33.8), which
may well have been roofed, was almost 40 m in diameter. It had an outer wall of
horizontal planking, four concentric rings of internal posts and a huge central oak
which seems to have been the focus of the monument. The latter timber was felled
in 95/94 Be (Baillie 1986, 1988). Soon after it was built there are indications of the
deliberate firing of this structure and its final, monumental sealing by the 5 m high
mound of stones and earth.
All the evidence suggests that this is a temple for there were no traces of normal
domestic activity there. Its systematic destruction and careful sealing also strongly
support the view that this was a sacred place. The discovery there of the remains
of a Barbary ape, transported to Armagh all the way from north Africa, further
underlines the exceptional importance of Navan at this time.
Dun Ailinne was the centre of Celtic Leinster. Excavations on the summit of the
hill there (Wailes 1990) have also revealed the former existence of large ringed
enclosures of timber varying in diameter from 22 m to 37 m. Their dating falls wholly
THE 40-METRE STRUCTURE
PLAN OF POST-BUTTS,
SLOTS AND PITSNAVAN FORT
(After Waterman mo).
t
VOids In cOlrn
.. f,'.ramp c--+ .,
..t
L
lr..
below cairnmetres 20
Figure 33.8 Plan of Phase 4 multi-ringed wooden structure, Navan Fort, Co. Armagh.