County: Limerick Site name: SKEHACREGGAUN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 07E0369
Author: Goorik Dehaene, for Gregory Consultant Archaeology Ltd.
Site type: Souterrain, Kiln, Pit and Hut site
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 554210m, N 654374m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.638648, -8.676523
The site at Skehacreggaun, Mungret, is 75m north-west of an ecclesiastical complex (LI013–009) and 125m east of a castle site (LI013–006). The site works were undertaken in June and July 2007 prior to a residential development on the site. The site comprises undulating pasture with limestone outcropping evident in the north of the site and bog evident in the south.
Fifteen parallel test-trenches were excavated at intervals of 8–11m. The trenches totalled 2413m. All fifteen trenches contained some archaeological material. Thirty-eight individual features were identified. These features comprise a souterrain, a possible kiln, 26 pits and ten linear features. These 38 features have been summarised into eight groups.
Group 1 contains two pits in the north-west of the site. The pits are adjacent to each other, suggesting a common function. Group 2 comprises a single linear feature aligned east–west and extending over six trenches in the centre of the site. The feature is probably a relict field boundary. Group 3 is two pits in the west of the site.
Group 4 is two pits and two linear features, extending over three trenches in the north of the site. An arc was extrapolated from one of the linear features which produced a diameter of 37m. This group may represent an enclosure located at the highest position of the site. Group 5 is similar to Group 4. A similar arc was extrapolated from a curvilinear feature that produced a diameter of 20m. This group of features was located to the east of Group 4 in the north-east of the site. Group 6 includes three pits and a linear feature in the east of the site.
Group 7 is a souterrain, a possible kiln, associated pits and a linear feature. These features were located in the centre of the site. The souterrain was identified by an intact ‘drop-hole’ with a chamber extending northwards. No further investigation of the souterrain was conducted. It is assumed that the pits, kiln and linear feature are associated with the souterrain activity.
Group 8 is similar to Groups 4 and 5. A circle was plotted based on three pit-type features. Should these small pits comprise post-holes (the remnants of upright wooden posts) it is probable that a circular hut-type structure with an estimated diameter of 10m is represented.
Coolroe, Tinahely, Co. Wicklow
