County: Limerick Site name: DOLLAS UPPER
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 02E0476
Author: Brian Halpin, for Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd.
Site type: Burnt spread
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 549029m, N 639136m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.501240, -8.750721
Topsoil-stripping on Bord Gáis Éireann’s Pipeline to the West uncovered a shallow burnt mound in poorly drained pastureland in Dollas Upper townland, Co. Limerick. The site was initially covered with peat material, and numerous peat deposits were encountered during the excavation, both above and below the mound. The site today lies in bog and would continue to sustain a peat environment. The mound measured 11.5m east–west by 8m and was fully uncovered. It was characterised by a large spread of burnt/fire-cracked angular stones with large amounts of charcoal. Numerous boulders were naturally embedded in very compact, yellow/ orange subsoil throughout the site. An area of stones was identified to the south of the feature. These may have been purposely placed and would have been intended as a rough platform surface built up on a small, natural, limestone outcrop.
No trough or structures were noted, although a number of shallow pit-like features were present. These features were probably natural undulations filled in with contemporaneous burnt material. Stray animal bone and teeth were the only finds made.
2 Killiney View, Albert Road Lower, Glenageary, Co. Dublin
