Excavation - miscellaneous

The National Monuments Service's description

Miscellaneous features excavated prior to the construction of the M7 National Road. An area initially identified in field 8 during archaeological test trenching carried out under Licence No. 00E0853 in advance of the Limerick Southern Ring-Road Project (www.excavations.ie 2001:787; Hayes 2003, 241; Hayes 2000). Located adjacent to an enclosure (LI006-092001-), a second enclosure (LI006-092006-), 2 hut sites (LI006-092003-/-092004-) and a cremation pit (LI006-092005-). The site was excavated by Frank Coyne under Licence No. 01E0214, the results were summarised as follows: ‘A number of burnt features uncovered at this site have been tentatively associated with the Bronze Age horizon. A deposit of burnt mound material, probably the remains of a fulacht fiadh, had been cut through by a ditch feature. This ditch may be associated with the early medieval occupation of the site (see below). The function of this burnt mound material, however, is unclear as it appears to have been contained within a deep pit, as the level of fire-cracked stone extended below the base of the ditch cut. A nearby fill of burnt mound material in a large pit produced sherds of pottery, probably of Bronze Age date. A cluster of round pits was also recorded to the east of the main area of activity. These averaged 1m in diameter and attained a depth of up to 0.5m. It has been suggested that these enigmatic features may be roasting-pits. It is not clear at this stage to which phase these features belong’ (www.excavations.ie 2001:791, Coyne 2001).

Compiled by: Fiona Rooney

Date of upload: 16 June 2020

References

Coyne, F. 2001 Archaeological report on the excavation at Newtown (A & E), Co. Limerick found during the monitoring of the Limerick Southern Ring Road Phase 1. Unpublished report (Licence No. 01E0214) submitted by Aegis Archaeology Ltd. on behalf of Limerick Co. Co. to the National Monuments Service, Dúchas

Coyne, F. 2003 Newtown, Co. Limerick Multi period site. In I. Bennett (Ed.) Excavations 2001: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 242 (No. 791). Bray. Wordwell.

Hayes, A. 2003 Newtown, Co. Limerick Testing. In I. Bennett (Ed.) Excavations 2001: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 241 (No. 787). Bray. Wordwell.