County: Limerick Site name: ADAMSTOWN (BGE)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: —
Author: Eoin Grogan
Site type: Ring-ditch
Period/Dating: Bronze Age (2200 BC-801 BC)
ITM: E 567357m, N 631349m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.432652, -8.480028
The features revealed in the excavation of an area 11.5m x 7.5m included a curved ditch delimiting the site on the north. It enclosed a large pit, two small shallow pits and a number of stake holes. A further large pit occurred to the south of the ditch, roughly inside its curve. After excavation it was interpreted as unrelated structurally to the ditch. To the east, outside the ditch and pits, was a group of shallow features and stake holes.
The curved ditch was 8m long ending in two dissimilar curved terminals. It was 60cm-1m in width and 15-30cm deep. It appeared to have been heavily truncated on its western (narrower and shallower) side. The fill included a layer of intense in-situ burning though no structural features were recognised. It yielded fragments of cremated bone mixed with fragments of burnt and un-burnt animal bone.
The large pit 'enclosed' by the ditch lay 85cm inside the central portion of the ditch. It was roughly square in plan (1.65m x 1.34m x 48cm) with steep sides and a flat base. It produced a quantity of unburnt animal bone and an unburnt human mandible in the fill. Also recovered were sherds of coarse, undecorated pottery and a struck flint flake. Two pairs of stake holes flanked the pit on either side, which may indicate a simple stake setting or possibly some sort of canopy over the pit.
The two other shallow pits measured 59cm x 53cm x 13cm and 40cm x 35cm x 5cm respectively. There were no finds in these.
The second large pit, 3m to the south-east of the curved trench, continued beyond the fence line. The excavated portion had a roughly square plan with steep sides and a gently curved base. It measured 1.75m x 1.54m x 56cm. The fill contained flecks of cremated bone and two sherds of coarse undecorated pottery. There were also some fragments of animal bone in the fill.
The group of features lying up to 2m from those described included a small oval pit and several post and stake holes. No finds were recovered from the fill of these features.
While the southern side of the site was not available for excavation, it appears that the curved trench was the sole enclosing element. If an opposing curvilinear ditch is present on the site then a gap of at least 4.5m would occur between the two opposing arcs of the enclosure. The presence of burnt and unburnt human bone suggests funerary activity on the site. The presence of the animal bone may represent a broader ritual context.
This site and sites 43, 45, and 53 (EXCAVATIONS, 1986) appear to have similar structural elements and may have served similar ritual/burial purposes.
5 St Catherine's Rd, Glenageary, Co Dublin
