Enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

On gentle W-facing slope, in low-lying pasture, c. 200m NE of the Groody River. Not depicted on OS historic mapping. Identified by Avril Hayes in 2002 during testing (Licence No. 02E1787) in Field 2 in advance of a residential development including private houses, student accommodation and support facilities (Hayes 2003, 4). This uncovered two sections of a ditch, having a U-shaped cut as well as four pits (LI005-085003-). Subsequent monitoring of topsoil stripping carried out by Avril Hayes in Field 2 uncovered the remainder of the ditch that had been identified during testing. It was a circular-shaped ditch (int. diam. 40m) and enclosed a circular-shaped feature (diam. 5m) in the SW quadrant. This levelled monument was further tested and then excavated by Avril Purcell in 2004 when it was recorded as a subtriangular-shaped, double-ditched enclosure (Purcell 2004, 2). The structure within is of probable Bronze Age in date and possible cremation and burial pits are thought to be contemporary (Purcell 2004, 11). Stratigraphic evidence shows that one of the pits predates the enclosure and two sherds of Beaker pottery also suggest earlier activity in the area (ibid).

See attached plan extract from testing report (Hayes 2003), testing report (Purcell 2004) and excavation report (Purcell 2004).

Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly

Date of upload: 30 June 2020

References

Hayes, A. 2002 Archaeological test trenching investigations report at Fields 2 & 3, Kilbane, Co. Limerick. Unpublished report submitted to the National Monuments Service, Department of Arts, Heritage & the Gaeltacht, Dublin.

Purcell, A. 2004 Archaeological excavation, Kilbane, Castletroy, Co. Limerick. Licence No. 04E1454. Unpublished report submitted to the National Monuments Service, Department of Arts, Heritage & the Gaeltacht, Dublin.

Hayes, A. 2003 Report on archaeological monitoring at Fields 1-3, Kilbane II, Castletroy, Co. Limerick. Licence no. 02E1787. Unpublished report submitted to the National Monuments Service, Department of Arts, Heritage & the Gaeltacht, Dublin.

Purcell, A. 2004 Archaeological test trenching, Kilbane, Castletroy, Co. Limerick. Licence No. 04E1086. Unpublished report submitted to the National Monuments Service, Department of Arts, Heritage & the Gaeltacht, Dublin.