House - prehistoric

The National Monuments Service's description

In mature deciduous forestry on the steep and rocky E slope of Knockadoon Peninsula. The site is located above and W of the path connecting the Black Castle (LI032-031----) to Bouchier's Castle (LI032-022034-). Site E (LI032-022032-) was excavated by Professor Seán P. Ó Ríordáin (1954, 413-5). The excavated remains form part of a wider complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age settlement that was discovered during a campaign of archaeological excavation over 18 seasons. Archaeological excavations were conducted by Ó Ríordáin at Site I and J (LI032-022023/4-) 275m to WSW; Circle J (LI032-022020-) 365m to WSW and Circle L (LI032-022030-) 60m to W.
The site is not depicted on historic OSi maps and is only visible as dense forest on both OSi orthoimages taken 2005-12 and on Digital Globe orthophoto taken 2011-2013. Comparatively level platforms occur as a result of the stepped rock formation on the hillside. Ó Ríordáin (ibid., 413-5) described how ‘on one of these rock shelves, which was about eight yards [7.31m] broad and thirty feet [9.14m] above the path-way between the castles, three hut sites were noted. Two others stood on the next shelf ten feet [3.05m] higher up the hill. The structures, rather overgrown and not clearly defined, were indicated by rough stones enclosing rectangular spaces, one side being formed by a natural cliff face.
Site E is one of the three structures on the lower platform. Its longer axis lay at right angles to the general contour of the hill. This was the more usual but not the universal disposition of these huts. The W side of the hut was formed by the rock face and its outline was shown by large blocks of stone mainly thick tabular pieces placed on edge, but in some cases fallen from their original position.
The structure was about 16' long [4.88m] and 12' broad [3.61m]. Excavation was difficult because of two trees which grew immediately outside the hut in the N, and the roots of which crossed the whole site. The roots were particularly troublesome towards the NW corner of the site, hence this portion was left unexcavated’.
Post-holes were identified in the floor surface with a small burnt hearth. Charcoal flecks were found everywhere on the site which was interpreted as resulting from the burning of wood and other organic material from which the building was constructed. Ó Ríordáin (ibid., 415) concluded that ‘there were no signs of intensive occupation and it seems likely that this hut, placed on the inhospitable E side of Knockadoon, was only used as a temporary shelter for a brief period. A chert leaf-shaped arrowhead and a piece of flint were found imbedded in the floor. Immediately above the floor were a fragment of pottery (the only one found), a bone point, and a whetstone’. The site was dated roughly to the pre-historic period. The site is visible as woodland on the Google Earth orthoimagetaken28/06/2018. Much of the site, including the other hut sites remain unexcavated. Cleary (2003, 99) located the two hut sites on the rock shelf above the excavated site. See attached site location map by Cleary 2003, Plate XLV(c) by Ó Ríordáin 1954 and Google Earth orthoimage.

Compiled by: Edmond O’Donovan

Date of upload: 25 November 2020

References

Cleary, R. et al. 2003 Enclosed Late Bronze Age Habitation Site and Boundary Wall at Lough Gur, Co. Limerick. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, 103C, 97-189.

Ó Ríordáin, S.P. 1954 Lough Gur excavations: Neolithic and Bronze Age houses on Knockadoon. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 56C, 297-460.