1999:477 - ATTYFLIN (Site AR7), Limerick

A complex of earthworks on the summit of a low hill (37m OD) was identified in the environmental impact statement for the proposed N20/N21 Road Improvement Scheme in Attyflin townland.

The earthworks are very low; the main feature is a subrectangular enclosure defined by a low, rounded bank c. 80m long (north-south) and 48m wide; there is an entrance in the south-east corner. The north-west quarter of the enclosure is occupied by a slightly raised, level, rectangular platform, c. 23.5m north-south by 19.5m. The remains of a field system, including a possible trackway, have been identified east of the enclosure. There is a cillín with associated field system on the other side of the present Patrickswell-Croom road (N21).

The realignment of the N21 necessitated the excavation of the western part of the enclosure before construction of the road. In addition, topsoil was stripped by mechanical excavator under archaeological supervision from areas extending 100m south of the site and 50m north of the site. Seven test-trenches were previously excavated in March 1997 by the writer and in December 1997 by Paul Logue (Excavations 1997, 111–12, 97E0477).

The enclosure was found to be a two-phase construction. The Phase 1 enclosure was 85m long. It was surrounded by a ditch that varied from 1.5m to 3m wide and averaged 0.6m deep. This ditch was cut through the underlying limestone bedrock in places. The Phase 2 enclosure involved the filling of the northern enclosure ditch and the digging of a ditch parallel to it 15m to the north, thereby extending the enclosed area from c. 2400m2 to c. 3200m2. The entrance was midway along the western side of the Phase 1 enclosure; it consisted of a 2m-wide causeway. Two pairs of substantial post-holes defined an entrance 1.5m wide internally. A line of smaller post-holes extended across the enclosure from the northern side of this entrance. This suggests that the enclosure was internally subdivided by a wooden fence

Within the enclosure there was a clear difference in the intensity of ancient activity. Relatively few features were found in the southern part, while in the northern half a series of large pits was uncovered. Four were quarry pits that were broader than they were deep and were filled with stones. It is thought that originally these pits were dug to extract clay for building purposes, the stony fill resulting from the sorting on site of the material dug out of the pit. Three rubbish pits were found. They are deeper than they are broad and contained organic-rich fills. Two of these pits cut one of the quarry pits. No clear evidence for structures was found within the enclosure, nor were any hearths uncovered, although a considerable amount of ash had been dumped into the northern ditch of the Phase 1 enclosure.

About 40m north of the main enclosure a series of ditches was uncovered during topsoil-stripping. These represent at least two phases of enclosure of which there was no surface trace. The Phase 1 enclosure was 35m long (north-south) and had a 2m-wide entrance gap midway along its western side, which was flanked by a pair of post-holes. The Phase II enclosure was roughly the same size as the earlier one, although the ditch that defined it was less substantial. Within these enclosures a series of pits was found. Two of them were quarry pits, and there was one substantial rubbish pit; however, there was also a series of less substantial pits, one of which contained more than 100 oyster shells.

Most of the features uncovered contained sherds of glazed medieval pottery. The vast majority of the pottery assemblage is locally made Adare ware; imported ceramics are solely represented by Saintonge green-glazed ware (C. Sandes, pers. comm.). A number of iron knives, one of which retained part of its wooden handle, were found. There are examples of both whittle tang and plate tang among the assemblage. A small iron slash hook was found. A decorated copper-alloy stick-pin and a simple copper-alloy ring brooch were found in one of the rubbish disposal pits. A single-edged composite bone comb was found in the backfill of the Phase 1 enclosure ditch. These finds all suggest a date in the 13th-14th century for the occupation on this site.

11 Fairview Strand, Dublin 3