Cremation pit

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, at the base of the valley, on the S side of the River Shannon. Not depicted on OS historic mapping. A fording point (LI001-001----) is located c. 60m to NE. Identified during archaeological testing (License No. 01E0319) which consisted of an advanced topsoil strip, within the way-leave corridor for the Castleconnell Sewerage Scheme (McCutcheon 2001). The feature was excavated (License No. 01E0319 ext.) in Area C (Series 1000/1000) and represented a keyhole-shaped pit (1.3m NNE-SSW; 0.68m WNW-ESE; D 0.48m) (Collins 2001, 64). The cut C55 has straight sides and a rounded base with a fill C50 of dark brownish black mix of topsoil and re-deposited boulder clay which contained frequent charcoal flecks, burnt stone, cremated bone, chert blades and flakes (ibid). The way-leave and spoil-heaps were also inspected for artefacts. Several axe fragments were retrieved in this exercise, as well as most of the worked chert and flint (71 fragments of flint and 116 of chert were recovered). Artefact analysis and dating are in progress. There is no visible surface expression of the monument on Digital Globe aerial photography.

Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly

Date of upload: 18 June 2020

References

McCutcheon, S. 2001 Archaeological testing at Hermitage, County Limerick, as aprt of The Castleconnell Sewerage Scheme for Limerick County Council. 01E0319. Unpublished report submitted to the National Monuments Service, Duchas, Dublin.

Collins, T. 2001 Archaeological excavation (License No 01E0319 ext.) at Hermitage, Castleconnell, Co. Limerick. Unpublished report for planning purposes submitted to National Monuments Service, Dúchas.

Gowen, M. 1998 Proposed sewage scheme Castleconnell, Co. Limerick Preliminary archaeological appraisal. Unpublished report for planning purposes.

Stevens, P. 1999 Proposed sewage scheme Castleconnell, Co. Limerick preliminary archaeological appraisal. Unpublished report by M. Gowen & Co. Ltd. for planning purposes.