2015:104 - MUNGRET: Mungret College, Dromdarrig, Limerick
County: Limerick
Site name: MUNGRET: Mungret College, Dromdarrig
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A
Licence number: 15E0236
Author: Linda Clarke, Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit
Author/Organisation Address: Unit 21 Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co Louth
Site type: Kiln and Pit
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 553676m, N 653792m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.633369, -8.684336
An assessment (via test trenching) took place of a proposed new Gaelscoil an Raithin and Mungret Educate Together National School at Mungret, Co. Limerick. Testing was was carried out on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills, Portlaoise Road, Tullamore, Co. Offaly at a pre-planning stage in order to confirm whether any archaeological constraints are apparent in relation to the site. The surrounding area contains a large number of recorded monuments and recent excavations in the vicinity highlighted the archaeological potential of the area.
The southern field (Field 1) is relatively flat with limestone rock very close to the surface. The northern field (Field 2) slopes from the old avenue leading to Glebe House northwards towards the existing Mungret Road with the northerly part of the field consisting of marl.
On 25 and 26 May 2015 a total of thirty-three test trenches with a combined total of 1,541 linear metres (3082 sq. metres) were excavated. The trenches were excavated in all cases to natural deposits which varied from grey to pale cream marl at the north end of Field 2 to orange brown boulder clay with outcropping rock at the south end of Field 2 and throughout Field 1. The topsoil varied in depth from 0.2m to 0.5m but for the most part maintained an average 0.4m in thickness.
In Field 1 two features of archaeological significance were exposed. The first of these uncovered in Trench 1 appears to represent a keyhole-shaped kiln which contained evidence of in situ burning as well as inclusions of burnt stone, burnt clay and charcoal. The kiln measured 2m in length and 1m in width at the widest part. It may represent a kiln for drying corn but other functions could not be ruled out prior to full excavation. The second feature consisted of a small pit which was exposed in Trench 14 and measured 0.5m in diameter. It was filled with a brown clay containing some charcoal. An area measuring 10m by 10m was excavated around the two features to assess whether any further features were present but none were exposed. No other features of archaeological significance were exposed during the testing in Field 1 and the only finds recovered from the topsoil consisted of post-medieval pottery and glass.
In Field 2, the gas pipeline had previously been stripped along the east and southern boundaries and prohibited testing in these areas. The topsoil stripping of the route for the pipeline was monitored at the time and no features were exposed in this field. During the present testing a gravel path was exposed below the topsoil in Trenches 18 and 29. The path was aligned roughly east-west, measured 1.5m in width and had multiple inclusions of glass and modern pottery. It obviously represents an old path leading to the well or pump which is indicated on the 25 inch OS map (c. 1920). The path itself is not marked on any of the OS editions. No other features of archaeological significance were exposed in Field 2 and no finds other than the glass and modern pottery were recovered.
The kiln and pit exposed in Field 1 are of archaeological significance and both will require full excavation prior to the construction phase.