2004:0975 - AUGHINISH, Limerick

Test-trenching was undertaken adjacent to a ringfort in advance of a gas pipeline construction project. The results of the excavation did not uncover any archaeological features or finds.

Monitoring was subsequently undertaken during the gasline construction phase; four small-scale sites were uncovered during monitoring.

Site 1 comprised two adjacent pits cut into orange subsoil and connected by a 0.03m-deep shallow linear depression. Both pits contained iron slag, clay lining from the furnace pits and iron bloom in the fills and this indicates that the pits were associated with ironworking. The absence of lime or limestone fluxes in the iron indicates a date in the Early Christian period for use of this site.

Site 2 was a thin spread of shell over an area measuring 17m by 8m. The shell species included cockle, periwinkle, mussel and some oyster. The area had been reseeded in recent times and this agricultural work had disturbed the central area of the shell spread. Modern pottery sherds and clay-pipe fragments were found among the shell. The site was in close proximity to the estuary and the shell may have been introduced to the site as part of soil improvements where seaweed was spread as a fertiliser.

Site 3a was a subcircular pit with some bone fragments in the basal fill. A large flat stone occupied part of the base on the north end. The pit fill was charcoal-enriched brown/black soil with some burnt bone, seashell and a burnt hazelnut shell fragment. The bone was concentrated in the south-west side. The bone fragments were too minute to identify as either animal or human. Five pieces of flint debitage were found at the base of the fill and Beaker pottery sherds were found throughout. The flint debitage may have been placed in the pit prior to infilling. A rounded water-rolled stone of old red sandstone was recovered from this fill. Some evidence of pocking/pitting on one end suggests use as a hammer stone.

The pit appears to contain random deposits of pottery sherds, burnt bone and flint debitage. The pottery is from the Beaker period and includes 43 sherds representing at least five vessels. The pottery includes one sherd of Bell Beaker with zoned decoration including comb-impressed lines and short strokes. A second vessel can be categorised as Domestic Beaker and has impressed pits below the rim, both internally and externally. Two fragments of a third vessel are also decorated with impressed comb motifs and they may belong to the Bell Beaker classification. These fragments are from a small, thin-walled vessel (max. thickness 5.5mm). The remaining sherds are undecorated but on fabric type belong to two other vessels. The pottery was broken in antiquity and may have been deposited in the pit as some type of ritualistic gesture.

Site 3b contained pits similar to post-pits and may indicate a settlement of unknown date in the area outside the pipeline wayleave.

Site 4 was a paved area found at the edge of the wayleave and this continued into the baulk. Eight flat stones extended over an area measuring 0.92m by 0.29m. Ash and charcoal flecks were visible on the east side. Oxidised and charcoal-flecked soil was visible 0.54m to the west. The site was probably a hearth and, as it will not be affected by the pipeline works, it was covered with terram and gravel and remains intact.