County: Limerick Site name: Clonconane
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: E4455
Author: EDEL RUTTLE
Site type: PREHISTORIC
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 554810m, N 658863m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.679043, -8.668276
Clonconane 1 was located on the proposed Coonagh – Knockalisheen Distributor Road. Six burnt stone spreads, pits and two wooden structures were excavated over six areas.
The burnt stone spread in Area A measured 4.3m by 2.5m, was 0.03m deep and was composed of dark brown clayey silt with frequent charcoal and heat-affected stone inclusions.
In Area B the burnt stone spread was similarly composed and measured 4.4m by 4.2m and was 0.07-0.1m deep.
In Area C a wooden trackway, a post-and-stake structure and two burnt stone spreads were excavated. The trackway and post-and-stake structure were located adjacent to one of the burnt stone spreads, but it was not apparent during excavation if the three were contemporary. They were then covered by clay and a second burnt stone spread was located on top of the clay.
The wooden trackway measured 3.05m long orientated from the south-west to the north-east and was 1.82m wide; the north-western edge had collapsed into a natural sink hole. The trackway was composed of 19 horizontal timbers and five vertical posts/stakes. The horizontal timbers consisted mostly of roundwoods and at least three split timbers in a poor to moderate condition. The posts and stake were located at the corners of the surviving horizontals.
A post-and-stake structure formed a distinct square, 1.9m by 1.41m, adjacent to the trackway. Three of the four posts were supported by a stake. The posts and stakes were roundwoods, were wholly converted and had numerous facet marks. The posts were uniform in size being between 0.12-0.15m in diameter. The stakes were worked into pencil points and had a diameter of 0.06m and 0.08m.
To the east of the wooden structures was a burnt stone spread, composed of loose mid greyish black peaty silt with frequent heat-shattered stone and charcoal, measured 10m by 5.02m and was 0.17m thick.
The burnt stone spread located over the clay may be an ex situ deposit. The spread was blackish dark grey silty peat with frequent heat-shattered stone and charcoal flecks measuring 4.84m by 3.42m and 0.18m thick.
Area D contained a single burnt stone spread of moderately compact dark brownish black sandy silt with frequent burnt stone and charcoal flecking. The spread measured 7.9m by 6.1m and was between 0.7-0.8m thick.
There was a single pit in Area E, ovoid in plan, concave with a flattish base, measuring 1.9m by 1m and 0.27m deep. The single fill was soft black peaty silt with frequent charcoal and heat-shattered stone.
Area F contained a large burnt stone spread, c. 23m in diameter. The spread was made up of two in situ manmade burnt stone deposits, redeposited natural, an up-casted burnt stone material, a collapsed/washed down burnt stone deposit, disturbance from a probable drain cutting and a layer of burnt stone mixed with topsoil.
No cut features were uncovered under the main body of the burnt stone spread, however two pits were recorded to the north of the spread. The only feature recorded under the spread was a natural depression that appeared to have been modified as a fire pit. The base of the depression was filled with a charcoal-rich deposit. Both pits were oval and flat based containing a single fill of dark brownish black peaty silt with frequent charcoal and heat-shattered stone. The pits measured 1.8m by 1.3m and 0.24m deep and 1.52m by 1.03m and 0.23m deep.
TVAS (IRELAND) LTD, AHISH, BALLINRUAN, CRUSHEEN, CO. CLARE
