2023:805 - Coonagh – Knockalisheen Distributor Road, Counties Limerick and Clare (Knock, Clonconane, Ballygrennan, Clondrinagh, Ballynanty More, Monabraher, Knockalisheen, Gortgarraun), Limerick

Archaeological monitoring took place of a 2.6km dual carriageway on the north-western outskirts of Limerick City (Coonagh – Knockalisheen Distributor Road and realignment of Pass Road). Monitoring works discovered four previously unknown sites. These are: Clonconane 3 (E005335) – charcoal-production pits, Clonconane 4 (E005352) – cremation burial pits, Ballygrennan 5 (E005334) – iron- and charcoal-rich pit, Ballygennan 6 (E005344) – curvilinear ditch section. Detailed summaries of each site will be submitted to the excavations database separately but the preliminary assessments of the sites are summarised below.

Clonconane 3: E005335, ITM 555185 659220. The excavation revealed four charcoal-production pits along with an additional pit. These features contained charcoal-rich material with haloes of in situ burning. The typical dimensions were 2m by 1m. The features were within 100m of the previously excavated site Clonconane 2 (E4456) that consisted of a single charcoal-production pit dated to the medieval period.

Clonconane 4: E005352, ITM 555020 659283. At least seven features were identified, apparently representing a small cremation burial cemetery with a possible charcoal-production pit nearby. Three of the pits presented as sub-circular areas of black soil with diameters of 0.3-0.4m; small fragments of burnt bone were evident on the surface of the deposits and the features had the appearance of typical un-urned cremation burials. At least another three small possible pits were present in the immediate area. Located to the south is a separate feature with dimensions of approximately 1m by 1.2m that appeared to be a charcoal-production pit with in situ burning in its base.

Ballygrennan 5: E005334, ITM 555400 659500. Two pits with diameters of approximately 1.5m were excavated. Charcoal-rich soil and iron slag were visible in the pits and the features were approximately 0.4m deep. Topsoil stripping in the surrounding area confirms that these are isolated features rather than part of a larger complex.

Ballygrennan 6: E005344, ITM 555488 659883. A curvilinear ditch approximately 28m long, 1m wide and 0.2-0.3m deep was excavated, this is currently undated.