2024:789 - Killaghteen, Limerick

Test trenching was carried out between 02–11 December 2024 in the townlands of Ballyfraley, Churchtown, Dooally, and Killaghteen on behalf of Limerick City and County Council (LCCC) in advance of the N21 Newcastle West Road Scheme. The archaeological testing was undertaken as part of the Phase 3 Design and Environmental Evaluation associated with the reduced corridor for the scheme. The testing comprised eleven test trenches (197 linear metres) at six locations to ground-truth the results of the geophysical survey carried out by AMS between April and September 2023. Testing identified a probable bivallate enclosure and an enclosure with associated features including a possible cremation pit within Churchtown townland.

At Churchtown townland testing confirmed the identification of the ditches previously noted by the geophysical survey which suggested a 40m diameter outer ditch and a 28m diameter inner ditch. The outer ditch measured 4.3m wide and 1.3m deep while the inner ditch, which was located c.4m to the south, measured 2.41m wide and 0.6+m deep. The full depth of the internal ditch was not reached due to a later pit truncating the top of the ditch; however, a depth of between 1–1.3m is estimated based on the steep slope of the sides of the ditch. These average dimensions and type of feature collectively fit with the defining characteristics of an early medieval rath.

A second enclosure was recorded c.12m south of the bivallate enclosure. The ditch measured 2.9–3.5m wide, 1.02m deep and had an internal diameter of c.18.7m. An irregular shaped pit was recorded within the centre of the trench and within the interior of the enclosure. It is roughly orientated northeast–southwest, continued eastwards beyond the limit of the trench and measured 2.04m x 1.94m x 0.15–0.2m. Located approximately 0.3m south of pit was a small, oval, possible cremation pit, measuring 2.04m long, 1.94m wide, and 0.2m deep. The fill contained black silty clay with frequent charcoal and occasional burnt bone flecks.  The presence of a possible enclosure may indicate a broadly prehistoric to medieval date while the recording of a possible cremation pit may indicate a prehistoric origin for this feature.