County: Limerick Site name: RATHBANE SOUTH
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 13:20 Licence number: 97E0287
Author: Audrey Gahan, ADS Ltd.
Site type: Barrow - unclassified
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 559459m, N 654044m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.636100, -8.598938
Archaeological assessment was carried out here owing to the proposed construction of the N20/N21 Adare–Annacotty road scheme. The site is marked on the OS map and on inspection appeared as a subcircular mound. Slight depressions in the surrounding area suggested the possibility of a ditch.
Two trenches were excavated, both being 1m x 20m. Trench 1 was orientated north–south while Trench 2 was aligned east–west. Both trenches were manually excavated and extended from the edge of the mound outwards.
The mound, which was approximately 15m in diameter, was constructed of layers of redeposited subsoil. In Trench 2 a row of large stones was uncovered which may represent kerbing. That the mound had been heavily truncated became immediately apparent, with large amounts of redeposited boulder clay spread over the entire length of the trenches.
Under the redeposited material the remains of a ditch, encircling the mound, were uncovered. This was roughly V-shaped and was also largely filled with redeposited subsoil. No artefacts were retrieved from this feature to suggest a date.
The possible remains of a second ditch were found, between 1m and 2m beyond the first ditch. This was ill-defined and was filled by redeposited boulder clay. Again, no artefacts were recovered which could suggest a date for the site.
The site will ultimately be excavated as it lies within the line of the road; however, it is not scheduled for excavation during the 1998 summer season.
Westlink Enterprise Centre, Belfast
