2000:0612 - SINGLAND AND REBOGE MEADOWS, Limerick

The proposed road extends west–east, from a new exit on the Parkway roundabout to the Plassey Park Road roundabout. There are no identifiable archaeological sites on the route line, but the topsoil-stripping of three areas of archaeological potential was monitored.

Site A is an area of high ground, with sandpits, located south of Foxhill House. It was thought that this sandy ground could contain burial cists. Originally it was intended to strip the area around Site A to formation level, a reduction of c. 2.6m. However, because of the amount of material to be removed and the unstable nature of the sand, it was deemed to be impracticable to do this and so it was only reduced, in bands, to the level of the natural sand. The removal of the sand to the formation level would be monitored at a later stage.

The first band that was stripped was worked north–south across the top of highest point of the hill. This was a total of 12m wide and was worked from north to south along the western side and from south to north along the eastern side of the band. Initially a test-pit was dug in the north-western corner. About 0.3m of black topsoil was removed. This overlay sand, which was initially orange and turned lighter yellow to bright grey the deeper it went. It was fine, dry, pure sand, and the sides kept collapsing. Maximum depth achieved was 3m before backfilling. Over the rest of the band only the black top layer was removed. Early modern pottery and other material lay at the interface of the soil and sand. Occasional sherds of late 17th/early 18th-century pottery were also recovered. At the southern end there was an intervening layer of mixed brown soil and sand in which early modern finds were distributed. This sloped over the total width down towards the southern end. A second test-pit was dug to 4m through this. The intervening layer was c. 0.75m deep and overlay the natural sand.

The next band was dug at right angles to the eastern side of the first at the northern end. Here the pit, 18m wide, which is marked on the OS 1:2500 plan, was exposed. This had been backfilled with modern rubbish. Once the eastern edge of the pit was reached, the band was confined to the width of the bucket and was worked eastwards downhill. Six trenches were dug in this way, more or less parallel to each other, all similar in their results. The curving linear feature visible at ground level, which was thought to be the remains of a possible field boundary, turned out to be a ridge of gravel, in which occasional red brick was incorporated. Parallel to it on the eastern side were occasional remains of fence-posts. The only variation was to the east of the linear feature in Band 6, where there was a pocket of natural gravel. To the south of this band, the remaining portion of the area was completely stripped, with no different result. The natural sand continued to slope southwards. At the southern end, projecting from the section at the level of the sand, was a collection of animal bones, possibly the remains of a cow. To the north-east of the section was a linear ‘pocket’ of large stones, with early modern finds, including red brick, incorporated into it. This had the appearance of a backfilled pit. Nothing of archaeological significance was noted in any of the bands. It is, however, still possible that there could be features buried below the top of the sand. Monitoring at the construction stage will be necessary.

Site C is marked as an osiery on the early OS maps. It is located to the south of the turnpike (Site B—not affected by the proposed road). The northern part of this triangular field is affected by the route line. Site C was stripped east–west parallel to the northern boundary (a drain lined with willow) of this triangular field. Because of the density of the willows, it was not possible to cut right to the edge of the drain. The area was worked in two bands: the first ran east–west, the second west–east. The conditions here were extremely wet, and the whole area was very overgrown with reed-type plants.

Once the sod was stripped, the surface water pooled back onto the ground; there was no soakage. Under the sod was a 0.15–0.2m layer of decayed vegetable matter, which overlay solid clay, thus explaining the lack of drainage. At the western end, the band was widened out, as per the road-take, although owing to the lack of definite markers this was narrower than will be required by the road. Nothing of archaeological significance was noted.

Site D is located on the western bank of the Groody River and Shesharee Stream, where there may be possible fulachta fiadh. It is proposed to widen the Groody Bridge and provide a surface-water filter area. Shesharee Stream runs north–south, parallel to and west of the river from Singland Mill. It was the tailrace for the mill and serves to drain the surrounding low-lying fields (Hannan 1990).

The topsoil on all three sites was mechanically stripped in bands by a machine with a 4ft-wide gummy bucket. The bands were c. 8–10m wide, and the sod/topsoil was removed and the spoil piled in a single central heap, 3–4m wide.

Site D was worked in north–south bands parallel to the river. The underlying soil was fine, dry, light brown and humic. This overlay a natural clay that varied in colour from rusty to dark grey. The southern end was virtually stoneless, but towards the northern end more stones occurred. Just south of the confluence of Shesharee Stream and the Groody River was a spread of early modern activity, defined by 19th–20th-century pottery, red brick and a red, gritty, sandy material with occasional medium-sized stones. At the confluence of the stream and river, the natural clay was at a higher level. The landowner stated that the river had been drained over the years, and this might explain the rise. About 6m from the southern end of the second band, and approximately central to it, was a spread of what may be burnt material, consisting of a thin layer of fine, sandy soil on grey, hardened, mixed clay and stone with charcoal present. On the remainder of the areas, once the sod was removed, the residual humus was overlying the grey clay, on which occasional sherds of early modern pottery were present. In one instance, conjoining sherds of part of a base of an internally red-glazed earthenware vessel were recovered. This was located 24m from the northern end, more or less central to the second band.

ReferenceHannan, K. 1990 The topography of the Siege. Old Limerick Journal 28, 37.

City Hall, Limerick