House - prehistoric

The National Monuments Service's description

At the foot of a ridge, in wet pasture, 120m S of a townland boundary with Attyflin. Another prehistoric excavation (LI021-166----) lies 200m to S. Not depicted on OS historic mapping. Monument identified in 1999 as a possible prehistoric settlement during monitoring of topsoil-stripping on the N20/N21 Adare to Annacotty Road Improvement Scheme. It was excavated (Licence No. 99E0341) by James Eogan and Sinclair Turrell and was described as a penannular ditch, post-holes, several burnt areas and a linear ditch filled with a very dark soil that contained a considerable amount of burnt stone and charcoal (Eogan and Turrell 2000, 1; Eogan and Turrell 2000, 160). Most of the features were very shallow, except a large pit (3.35m x 3.5m) to E of the penannular ditch, which proved to be a stone-lined well.
The pennanular ditch (Wth 0.5-0.9m) probably represents a slot trench of a circular structure (approx. diam. 10m), having an entrance to the S (ibid). A possible ring of posts around the outside of the ditch may have provided wall supports and an inner ring of posts probably supported the roof. A central hearth along with a number of stake-holes suggests other internal features (ibid). A series of post-holes to N of the well and some hearths may date earlier than the pennanular structure, which is probably contemporary with the well and the majority of the hearths and pits. Another set of hearths and pits, together with a linear ditch, seem to represent later features (ibid).
The well shaft (D 0.6m) was excavated (D 2.4m) and was lined with large, undressed stones set in clay (ibid). Some flat stones were placed around the mouth of the well to provide access. There was a considerable amount of burnt stone in the fill and in the clay lining of the well. Some animal bone and wood were found in the lower fill of this feature. It is anticipated that wood, bone and charcoal samples will provide enough material for radiocarbon dates. Monument not visible on Digital Globe orthophotos taken 2011-13 or on Google Earth orthoimages taken 28/06/2018.

See attached Google Earth orthoimage.

Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly

Date of upload: 6 August 2020

References

Eogan, J. and Turrell, S. 2000 Preliminary report on excavations at Ballygeale Site 1, Co. Limerick. Archaeological Investigations along the N20/N21 Adare to Annacotty Road Improvement Scheme. License no. 99E0341. Unpublished report submitted to the National Monuments Service, Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Dublin.

Eogan, J. and Turrell, S. 2000 Ballygeale Site 1; Settlement activity of unknown date. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 1999: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 160 (No. 485). Bray. Wordwell.