County: Limerick Site name: DOORADOYLE
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 97E0289
Author: Audrey Gahan, ADS Ltd.
Site type: Fulacht fia
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 556173m, N 654082m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.636186, -8.647475
The site is situated in what was a playing field on the line of the proposed N20/N21 Adare–Annacotty road scheme. Nearby a mound (possibly natural) and a circular cropmark had been identified, which, although unaffected directly by the road, necessitated archaeological monitoring of topsoil-stripping of the area closest to them. A stream forms part of the nearby field boundary.
The removal of topsoil took place in September 1997 under archaeological supervision. Three trenches were stripped, each approximately 1.5m wide, with lengths of 63.5m (Trench 1), 71m (Trench 2) and 66.2m (Trench 3).
Trench 1 contained no material of archaeological significance. Sod and topsoil were removed to reveal a mid-brown loamy soil which overlay subsoil.
Trench 2 was found to contain the remains of a fulacht fiadh. This manifested itself as a spread of dark brown-black loamy silty soil containing charcoal and with abundant amounts of heat-shattered and fractured stone. This material was spread over an area of approximately 15m north–south x 6.3m east–west. The trench was widened here to better define the limits of the archaeology. The core area of the mound was extremely black and measured 9m north–south. The rest of the material probably represents slippage or levelling of the mound.
Trench 3 contained the remains of another, smaller burnt mound or fulacht fiadh. This measured approximately 6.7m north–south and 3m east–west. It consisted of a similar charcoal-rich soil and also contained abundant heat-shattered and fractured stone.
Approximately 3.15m south of this burnt mound, the remains of a pit were located. This was only partially visible and extended beyond the limit of the trench. It was a subcircular feature filled with a mid-brown loamy soil containing small to medium-sized stones and a moderate amount of charcoal. It measured some 1.65m north–south and at least 1m east–west.
No artefacts were retrieved during monitoring and the site was later excavated by Cia Mc Conway under an extension to the original licence (see Excavations 1997, No. 339).
Westlink Enterprise Centre, Belfast
