County: Limerick Site name: BRACKBAUN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: E002340
Author: Melanie McQuade, Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd.
Site type: Habitation site
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 588587m, N 617052m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.305005, -8.167349
This site was investigated under Ministerial Directive A035/00 in advance of the N8 road improvement from Mitchelstown, Co. Cork, to Cashel, Co. Tipperary. It was located on low-lying land at the foothills of the Galtee Mountains to the north-east of a Bronze Age cremation burial (see No. 1243, Excavations 2006, E2338) and a fulacht fiadh (see No. 1244, Excavations 2006, E2339).
Two phases of activity were evident on site. Phase 1 was represented by a series of stake- and post-holes and a pit. Three of the stake-holes formed a north-west to south-east oriented row which extended for 1.3m. The remaining post- and stake-holes had no coherent plan. The pit was 0.35m in diameter and 0.25m deep. Fragments of burnt animal bone and charcoal within the fill suggest that it may have been used to hold refuse. During Phase 2 a fire on site resulted in an accumulation of burnt material 0.05m deep. This covered an area measuring 4.5m by 3.9m. There were no finds from this site and the results of radiocarbon analysis are awaited.
27 Merrion Square, Dublin 2
