Linn Duachaill
Encyclopedia
Linn Duachaill is the name of a Viking
longphort
near the village of Annagassan
, County Louth
, Ireland
. The settlement was built in 841 AD, the same time as the settlement of Dubh Linn, or Dublin. In contrast to Dublin, the settlement was abandoned, possibly because it lacked continuous access to the sea; the river tides would have made access to the water impossible for a number of hours per day.
, as he is called in the annals, is said to have founded forts at Dubh Linn and Linn Duachaill, from which the "surrounding territories and churches were plundered and preyed." This Turgus was a colourful figure: he apparently brought the north of Ireland under his rule and enthroned his wife on the high altar of the cathedral at the monastery of Clonmacnoise
, but was taken prisoner in 843 by Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid and drowned in Loch Nar.
, after a team of archeologists and a geophysicist
had searched from 2005 to 2007 and found a pattern of straight ditches, unlike the usually circular forts built by the native population. The initial drive for the excavation came from a local filmmaker, Ruth Cassidy, member of the local historical society. The announcement that the finds were identified as Linn Duachaill was made in September of 2010. Since the site is on agricultural land, it is very well preserved.
Three test trenches were dug. The team, headed by archeologist Mark Clinton, excavated a "defensive rampart, consisting of a deep ditch and a bank." This wall would have protected the fort on one side, while the other sides would have been protected by the River Glyde and the Irish Sea
. Objects found include "Viking ship rivets, cut-up Viking silver
and looted Irish metalwork," besides "part of a human skull, a whorl for spinning thread and a brooch pin."
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
longphort
Longphort
A longphort is a term used in Ireland for a Viking ship enclosure or shore fortress. Longphorts were originally built to serve as camps for the raiding parties in...
near the village of Annagassan
Annagassan
Annagassan is a village in the townland of Ballynagassan, County Louth, Ireland. It sits where the River Glyde enters the Irish Sea.It was first mentioned as Linn Duachaill in AD 841 when the establishment of a Viking longphort was recorded...
, County Louth
County Louth
County Louth is a county of Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Louth. Louth County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The settlement was built in 841 AD, the same time as the settlement of Dubh Linn, or Dublin. In contrast to Dublin, the settlement was abandoned, possibly because it lacked continuous access to the sea; the river tides would have made access to the water impossible for a number of hours per day.
History
The longphort of Linn Duachaill is first mentioned in Irish annals of the 840s. A certain Tergeis or TurgesiusTurgesius
Turgesius was a Viking chief active in Ireland who is said to have conquered Dublin. It is not at all clear whether the names in the Irish annals represent the Old Norse Thurgestr or Thorgísl...
, as he is called in the annals, is said to have founded forts at Dubh Linn and Linn Duachaill, from which the "surrounding territories and churches were plundered and preyed." This Turgus was a colourful figure: he apparently brought the north of Ireland under his rule and enthroned his wife on the high altar of the cathedral at the monastery of Clonmacnoise
Clonmacnoise
The monastery of Clonmacnoise is situated in County Offaly, Ireland on the River Shannon south of Athlone....
, but was taken prisoner in 843 by Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid and drowned in Loch Nar.
Discovery
The site was discovered in 2010 on a flat area on the River GlydeRiver Glyde
The River Glyde rises in the town of Bailieborough in Cavan. Some smaller tributaries of the Glyde are the River Dee and the Killanny Rivers which contain stocks of sea trout and salmon. The Glyde flows in a south-easterly direction before entering the sea at Annagassan in Louth, site of the...
, after a team of archeologists and a geophysicist
Geophysics
Geophysics is the physics of the Earth and its environment in space; also the study of the Earth using quantitative physical methods. The term geophysics sometimes refers only to the geological applications: Earth's shape; its gravitational and magnetic fields; its internal structure and...
had searched from 2005 to 2007 and found a pattern of straight ditches, unlike the usually circular forts built by the native population. The initial drive for the excavation came from a local filmmaker, Ruth Cassidy, member of the local historical society. The announcement that the finds were identified as Linn Duachaill was made in September of 2010. Since the site is on agricultural land, it is very well preserved.
Three test trenches were dug. The team, headed by archeologist Mark Clinton, excavated a "defensive rampart, consisting of a deep ditch and a bank." This wall would have protected the fort on one side, while the other sides would have been protected by the River Glyde and the Irish Sea
Irish Sea
The Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is connected to the Celtic Sea in the south by St George's Channel, and to the Atlantic Ocean in the north by the North Channel. Anglesey is the largest island within the Irish Sea, followed by the Isle of Man...
. Objects found include "Viking ship rivets, cut-up Viking silver
Hacksilver
thumb|300px|right|Hacksilver from the medieval period, Museum für Hamburgische Geschichte, Hamburg, Germany.Hacksilver, or Hack-silver, is fragments of cut and bent silver items treated as bullion, either for ease of carrying before melting down for re-use, or simply used as currency by weight...
and looted Irish metalwork," besides "part of a human skull, a whorl for spinning thread and a brooch pin."