County: Limerick Site name: Garryduff 3
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 12E003
Author: Shane Delaney
Site type: Charcoal production pit
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 524069m, N 632133m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.435401, -9.116696
Excavation was carried out at Garryduff 3 as part of the N21 Killarney Pole to Barnagh Road Realignment. The route was initially subject to testing in 2011 by Dave Bayley (Excavations 2011, No. 404, 11E349) and three areas of archaeological potential were identified within the townland of Garryduff (1-3). At Garryduff 3, a sub-rectangular charcoal-production pit was identified along with several additional pits. Charcoal-production pits generally date to the Iron Age and early medieval periods and are often linked to iron working where the charcoal was used as a fuel in furnaces.
A sample of hazel (corylus sp.) charcoal from the basal fill of the charcoal-production pit was chosen for AMS dating. The charcoal returned a 2 Sigma calibrated carbon14 date of AD774–943, indicating a date in the early medieval period for this feature.
Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd, 120b Greenpark Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow
