Unearthing a forgotten Medieval Building Technique An Examination of Earth Mortared Stone Construction in Later medieval Ireland (1100-1600AD)

Abstract

In Ireland a largely missing domestic medieval settlement record stimulated archaeological research into understanding its absence. Regional field survey of standing later medieval buildings in north-west Ireland combined with national documentary and archaeological research has identified a to date unrecognised medieval building technique ? stone and earth mortared construction. New research has shown that it has been frequently overlooked, ignored or unseen by academics and professionals in the field. Reinterpreted evidence has indicated that poor recording and extensive misclassification has resulted in this medieval construction method remaining obscured in the archaeological settlement record to date. Research demonstrates that stone and earth mortared construction was a common vernacular building tradition utilising stone bonded with earth and sealed by lime plaster renders or lime washes both internally and externally. This construction technique and the materials it used allowed structures to rapidly appear and disappear from the later medieval landscape given weathering effects, masonry reuse, the predominant non use of foundation trenches as well as later landscape disturbances, resulting in little visible archaeological footprint surviving. Only high status earth mortared stone structures such as churches, hall houses and castles survive given their more affluent medieval owners. This construction technique has been substantiated by the new identification of earth mortar construction pits delimiting the external wall lines of stone and earth mortared structures. These earth mortar pits also indicate the position of new buildings not previously identified in the archaeological record to date. Collated research evidence also points at its use as a traditional building technique extending back into the early medieval period and beyond. This research represents the first body of work undertaken on earth mortared stone construction in Ireland with no published works on the subject to date. The identification of this new medieval construction technique has revolutionised current theories on building construction employed by all social classes in later medieval Ireland. Research has established that earth mortar was commonly chosen by rich and poor in stone construction given its proven application, structural capabilities and durability rather than it being an alternative and necessitated building choice. The identification of this new construction technique firmly establishes the rightful position of stone and earth mortar construction within the medieval settlement record in Ireland.