County: Limerick Site name: BALLINGAYROUR (BGE 3/77/20–2)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 02E0517
Author: Brian Halpin, for Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd.
Site type: Enclosure
Period/Dating: Bronze Age (2200 BC-801 BC)
ITM: E 560480m, N 634346m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.459138, -8.581500
BGE 3/77/20
This site, in Ballingayrour townland, Co. Limerick, contained a curvilinear ditch, along with associated pits and stake-holes. The nearest stake-hole to the ditch was 0.1m south of it, and the nearest pit was 0.06m north-east of it. The area contained two separate sites, probably related to each other. An area of machine disturbance heavily truncated the ground between both sites, making a direct correlation difficult. The first site was an elongated ditch measuring 9m by 0.7m, running west to south-east. A cluster of associated features of varying dimensions lay at the westernmost part of the ditch, c. 0.4m south of it. The ditch had a very well-defined cut, with definite termini at both ends. The cut was U-shaped with sharp sides. The base was flat, containing minor amounts of naturally arrayed stones.
Although occasional sherds of pottery were recovered from the fill of the ditch, the largest concentration of pottery was retrieved from the eastern terminus. The western terminus contained three small sherds found at the base. The eastern terminus had a very large deposit of body- and rimsherds found roughly in place, lining the base and rising up slightly on the side. Analysis of this pottery established that it had been broken in antiquity and either carefully deposited or thrown into the ditch. A reconstruction proved it to be a vertical-walled, flat-based, undecorated vessel associated with the Late Bronze Age. An irregular sub-oval pit/depression lay 2m south of the ditch, measuring 1.54m north-east/south-west by 0.66m. Pottery of a similar type was recovered from this feature.
Two other, irregularly shaped pits contained moderate amounts of charcoal but no finds or features to indicate their purpose. Six subcircular features scattered throughout the site were recorded. They had varying dimensions, the largest measuring 0.6m by 0.68m and the smallest 0.26m by 0.24m. Five were shallow and U-shaped and contained varying amounts of charcoal-rich fill. One, however, was fairly deep, with very well-defined, steep sides, and contained very little charcoal.
Eleven stake-holes found to the south of the western terminus of the ditch were similar in design: shallow, V-shaped cuts with single fills of silty clay, cut into the subsoil. They were not aligned in any particular pattern but may have been used as a temporary windbreak.
BGE 3/77/21
This site was next to the edge of a baulk; its extent is therefore unclear. It is the remnant of a shallow ditch. The curvilinear feature measured 2.6m east–west by 0.5m when exposed. It was shallower than the ditch noted in the above site, but, owing to its proximity, may be associated with it. Minor amounts of pottery, which were similar to and may be related to the reconstructed vessel from BGE 3/77/20, were recovered from this feature.
BGE 3/77/22
A curvilinear feature was uncovered lying just west of BGE 3/77/20–1. This feature, measuring 6.7m north–south by 0.7m, was linear and U-shaped, with steep sides and a generally flat base, and was cut into the yellow/orange boulder clay. It had three fills of varying grey/brown silty clay with very occasional charcoal flecking. It may be part of a larger ditch feature that has not survived.
2 Killiney View, Albert Road Lower, Glenageary, Co. Dublin
