County: Limerick Site name: Moneteen
Sites and Monuments Record No.: LI013-009 --- Licence number: 17E0127
Author: Frank Coyne, Aegis Archaeology
Site type: Medieval
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 553987m, N 653952m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.634833, -8.679764
This excavation was undertaken in advance of the construction of a Children’s Respite House and Day Centre at Moneteen, Mungret, Limerick. The site was previously subject to a programme of test trenching in 2007, under licence 07E0352, during which features of archaeological interest were encountered. Conditions attached to the grant of permission for the development included those for archaeological excavation of the features found during the test trenching.
The area of the footprint of the proposed development was stripped of topsoil by mechanical excavator under archaeological supervision to reveal features first identified in the 2007 testing. The area was cleaned back by hand and features identified. In all, eleven features were excavated: 4 spreads, 5 pits (some of which were relatively large), and 2 linear features, interpreted as small, relatively shallow channels or ditches. Artefacts, which included pottery, a Jew’s Harp and a medieval coin, were recovered. At this stage, on the basis of the excavated material and before radiocarbon determinations have been considered, the site is interpreted as being later medieval in date, with a light industrial function, and likely associated with the historic settlement at Mungret, which lies immediately to the east.
32 Nicholas St, King's Island,, Limerick
