County: Limerick Site name: BALLYGEALE (Site 1)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 99E0341
Author: James Eogan and Sinclair Turrell, ADS Ltd.
Site type: House - prehistoric
Period/Dating: Prehistoric (12700 BC-AD 400)
ITM: E 551016m, N 646945m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.571599, -8.722614
This site was c. 2km from Patrickswell, on the east side of the existing road to Croom (N20). It lies in a poorly drained area at the foot of a ridge on the top of which (in Attyflin townland) were a field system and habitation site dating to the medieval period. It is c. 200m north of Ballygeale 2 (No. 486, Excavations 1999), which was excavated concurrently. The site was discovered in June 1999 during monitoring of topsoil-stripping on the N20/N21 Road Improvement Scheme.
After removal of a thin layer of topsoil, a number of features were exposed, including part of a penannular ditch, post-holes, several burnt areas and a linear ditch. Most of them were filled with a very dark soil that contained a considerable amount of burnt stone and charcoal. Most of the features were very shallow, with the notable exception of a large pit (3.35m x 3.5m) to the east of the penannular ditch, which proved to be a stone-lined well.
The ditch varied from 0.5m to 0.9m wide and most likely represents the wall trench of a circular structure c. 10m in diameter with an entrance to the south. There may have been a ring of posts around the outside of the ditch, supporting the walls, and an inner ring of posts, supporting the roof. There was a central hearth, while the presence of a number of stake-holes suggests other internal features. The very shallow stratigraphy made it difficult to assess the relationships between features and the phases of activity; the site was limited to the east and west by modern disturbance. A series of post-holes north of the well and some hearths may be from an earlier phase than the structure, which is probably contemporary with the well and the majority of the hearths and pits. Another set of hearths and pits, together with a linear ditch, seems to be a later feature.
The well was excavated to a depth of 2.4m, a limit set by time and safety considerations. The shaft was 0.6m in diameter and was lined with large, undressed stones set in clay. Some flat stones were placed around the mouth of the well to provide access. There was a considerable amount of burnt stone in the fill and in the clay lining of the well. Some animal bone and wood were found in the lower fill of this feature.
No pottery or artefacts were found that would give an indication of date, although it is anticipated that wood, bone and charcoal samples will provide enough material for radiocarbon dates.
Windsor House, 11 Fairview Strand, Dublin 3
