10.01.2014 Views

AR01055_EMAP_Gazetteer_of_Sites_4-2_10.pdf - The Heritage ...

AR01055_EMAP_Gazetteer_of_Sites_4-2_10.pdf - The Heritage ...

AR01055_EMAP_Gazetteer_of_Sites_4-2_10.pdf - The Heritage ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

Limerick<br />

Ballyduff, Co. Limerick<br />

Early Medieval Settlement Enclosure<br />

Grid Ref: R210795 (12100/17950)<br />

SMR No: LI057-006<br />

Excavation Licence: E000815<br />

Excavation Duration/Year: July & August 1979<br />

Site Director: Rose Cleary & Vincent Hurley (University College Cork)<br />

A counterscarp enclosure at Ballyduff revealed evidence for the occupation <strong>of</strong> the site in the<br />

form <strong>of</strong> a possible house foundation trench, hearths, postholes, paved surfaces and gravel<br />

spreads. No finds were recovered and there was no indication <strong>of</strong> a date for the features. <strong>The</strong><br />

site (175m OD) was partially excavated over the course <strong>of</strong> seven weeks in July and August<br />

1979 in advance <strong>of</strong> improvements along the Mitchelstown-Ballylanders Road. Three<br />

quadrants (1a, 1b & 2a) were excavated in the western section as well as a trench cut across<br />

the enclosing banks and ditches (Fig. 198). None <strong>of</strong> the three quadrants were investigated<br />

down to sterile levels as the excavation was unable to be completed due to lack <strong>of</strong> funds.<br />

Prior to excavation the earthwork appeared as a univallate enclosure, oval in plan and<br />

measuring 43m by 48m. Excavation uncovered traces <strong>of</strong> a second outer bank. <strong>The</strong> inner<br />

bank- 1.5m maximum height- measured 1.1m high and 4.2m wide in the trench and<br />

consisted primarily <strong>of</strong> re-deposited boulder clay. <strong>The</strong> inner ditch was flat-bottomed,<br />

measuring 2.60m wide at its base and 1.50m deep below the original ground level. <strong>The</strong> ditch<br />

appears to have silted-up in five distinct stages. <strong>The</strong> external counterscarp bank- 2.5m wideappears<br />

to have been leveled on top and only survived as a 0.2m-0.3m thick layer <strong>of</strong> redeposited<br />

boulder clay, similar to that uncovered in the inner bank. <strong>The</strong>re was no obvious<br />

evidence for an outer ditch. A possible entranceway was located in the northwest side <strong>of</strong> the<br />

enclosure but local information indicated that it may have been constructed in the early-<br />

1950s.<br />

A possible house foundation trench (0.5m-2m wide) filled with humus and small boulders was<br />

uncovered (Fig. 183). <strong>The</strong> trenches defined the south, west and north sides <strong>of</strong> a possible<br />

building, 5.6m north-south and at least 5m east-west. A circular spread <strong>of</strong> oxidized clay- 0.8m<br />

in diameter- was uncovered within the area <strong>of</strong> the foundation trench and was interpreted as a<br />

hearth. Five postholes and fifteen stakeholes were recorded in and around the hearth. An<br />

introduced gravel spread- 1.7m by 2.3m- was uncovered on the southern edge <strong>of</strong> the hearth<br />

lying over the original floor surface. Six postholes were also recorded within the area<br />

enclosed by the house trenches. Running for 4m adjacent to the south bank <strong>of</strong> the enclosure<br />

outside the possible house foundation trench was the remains <strong>of</strong> a drain (0.7m-0.8m wide by<br />

0.2m maximum depth). Its fill contained a mixture <strong>of</strong> humus and charcoal and it appears that<br />

this feature may have been dug to catch run-<strong>of</strong>f water from the bank.<br />

<strong>The</strong> main feature within quadrant 1a comprised the site <strong>of</strong> a hearth (0.3m in diameter) which<br />

was apparent as a spread <strong>of</strong> oxidized soil surrounded by a large spread <strong>of</strong> charcoal-flecked<br />

humus. Two amorphous gravel spreads were also recorded and almost surrounded the<br />

hearth.<br />

A roughly-set paved surface composed <strong>of</strong> small flat boulders was uncovered within the<br />

southern part <strong>of</strong> quadrant 2a. Two closely-set cobbled areas were recovered on the northwestern<br />

and south-western sides <strong>of</strong> this paving. <strong>The</strong>se areas <strong>of</strong> paving and cobbling were<br />

identifiable prior to excavation as a low ridge. Similar low ridges and banks were visible in the<br />

south-eastern area <strong>of</strong> the enclosure and may perhaps represent the remains <strong>of</strong> other<br />

unexcavated paved areas or even stone-built structures. A further gravel spread was<br />

excavated in the south-western corner <strong>of</strong> the quadrant and like the similar examples in<br />

quadrants 1a and 1 b was also introduced to the site.<br />

408

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!