County: Limerick Site name: RINCULLIA (BGE 3/47/3)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 02E0752
Author: Emer Dennehy, for Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd.
Site type: Pit
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 528084m, N 649370m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.590850, -9.061381
The site was exposed during monitoring of topsoil-stripping along Section 3 of the Bord Gáis Éireann Pipeline to the West, from Goatisland, Co. Limerick, to Gort, Co. Galway, c. 400m south of the N69, between Foynes and Askeaton, Co. Limerick. On initial identification, the site appeared as a subcircular, grey/brown, silty clay patch with charcoal flecking, measuring 1.2m north–south by 0.8m. Further investigation revealed a pit 0.3m deep. Five stakes, averaging 0.08m in diameter and with a maximum depth of 0.25m, were driven into the base of the pit. All of the stakes-holes were filled with the same charcoal-rich, silty peat, indicating that they were likely to have been burnt in situ.
Subsequently the pit had been left open and filled naturally over time.
Although there is no clear indication of function for this pit, it can be concluded that there was deliberate human action and forethought involved in the use of the site. Environmental analysis of the bulk soil samples taken may facilitate an interpretation of activity at the site.
2 Killiney View, Albert Road Lower, Glenageary, Co. Dublin
