County: Limerick Site name: GLENDARRAGH/GARRYDUFF/KILLAGHTEEN/BALLINTUBBRID
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 11E0349
Author: David Bayley
Site type: Two possible Bronze Age roundhouses and a charcoal-production pit
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 551978m, N 645278m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.556700, -8.708190
Testing was undertaken in advance of the proposed N21 Killarney Pole to Barnagh Road Safety Scheme within the townlands of Glendarragh, Garryduff, Killaghteen and Ballintubbrid. The assessment was undertaken in October 2011 on behalf of Limerick County Council and the National Roads Authority. A total of 6,164 linear metres of trenches in seven greenfield areas were excavated. Three archaeological sites were discovered during the course of the works.
Garryduff 1 consisted of a series of six post-holes with two short possible slot-trenches, which may have represented a small, temporary prehistoric structure. The possible post-holes and slot-trenches enclosed an area that measured approximately 4m by 5m and was aligned north-west/south-east.
Garryduff 2 was identified as a possible Bronze Age roundhouse consisting of post-holes and narrow curvilinear slot-trenches. The enclosed area was approximately 7m in diameter. No diagnostic material was recovered during Stage (ii) pre-excavation works. Additional pits, post- and stake-holes were located in the immediate vicinity of the house. Peripheral to the main activity were other pits and spreads, predominantly in the east of the site. In the south of the site the remains of a possible vernacular structure were identified. The structure is marked on the first-edition OS map.
Garryduff 3 consisted of an oval-shaped charcoal-production pit (2.2m x 0.7m x 0.22m), associated with four other pits of possible archaeological significance identified nearby. The sites will be excavated in early 2012.
Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd, 120b Greenpark Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow
