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Limerick<br />

Newtown, Co. Limerick<br />

Early Medieval Settlement Enclosure<br />

Grid Ref: R62555585 (162550/155850)<br />

SMR No: N/A<br />

Excavation Licence: 01E0214<br />

Excavation Duration/year: 2001<br />

Site Director: F. Coyne (Aegis Archaeology Ltd.)<br />

Newtown A, excavated in advance <strong>of</strong> the proposed Limerick Southern Ring Road, revealed an<br />

eighth/eleventh-century sub-triangular enclosure with internal buildings, pits and other<br />

features (Fig. 209). Prior Bronze Age activity was represented by two houses situated to the<br />

north <strong>of</strong> the enclosure as well as a flat cremation cemetery while the ditch <strong>of</strong> another<br />

undated possible enclosure (Newtown E) was excavated 25m to the west. Newtown A was<br />

previously unrecorded and discovered during test-trenching on a crest <strong>of</strong> a hill (30m OD) in<br />

an otherwise generally low-lying landscape, east <strong>of</strong> Limerick city.<br />

<strong>The</strong> first phase <strong>of</strong> activity appears to have centred on an early Bronze Age flat cemetery and<br />

includes two houses (A and B), large pits and possible burnt mound material. Fragments <strong>of</strong> at<br />

least seven funerary pots (Vase Urn tradition) containing the cremated remains <strong>of</strong> at least<br />

three individuals were uncovered, mostly from a series <strong>of</strong> inter-cutting pits in the southwestern<br />

corner <strong>of</strong> the early medieval enclosure.<br />

Two roughly U-shaped buildings were excavated on the north side <strong>of</strong> the main enclosure and<br />

appear to have been associated with the flat cemetery. <strong>The</strong>y contained internal hearths and<br />

were defined by slot-trenches and postholes. Prehistoric pottery were recovered from hearths<br />

and pits associated with these structures. Three features- a pit with early Bronze Age pottery,<br />

areas <strong>of</strong> burning with charcoal and cremated bone and a deposit <strong>of</strong> charcoal and burnt stonewere<br />

uncovered to the immediate north <strong>of</strong> the main enclosure, 10m from the Bronze Age<br />

structures.<br />

Newtown A had maximum dimensions <strong>of</strong> 40m x 50m, and the enclosing ditch was V-shaped<br />

in pr<strong>of</strong>ile and averaged 3m in width. <strong>The</strong> basal fill <strong>of</strong> the enclosing ditch produced a calibrated<br />

2Σ date <strong>of</strong> A.D. 778-1032. Charcoal from an upper fill <strong>of</strong> the enclosing ditch produced a<br />

calibrated 2Σ date <strong>of</strong> A.D. 1018-1295 and may date the final levelling <strong>of</strong> the site. <strong>The</strong> ditch<br />

was partly surrounded on its eastern and northern sides by a narrow trench (0.5m in width),<br />

interpreted as an external palisade slot-trench. No earthen internal enclosing bank was<br />

identified.<br />

<strong>The</strong> eastern enclosure entrance was formed by a 5m wide un-dug portion <strong>of</strong> the ditch and<br />

was revetted in places by stone facing. A series <strong>of</strong> postholes and a slot-trench were<br />

excavated immediately inside the entrance and were interpreted as the remains <strong>of</strong> some form<br />

<strong>of</strong> gatehouse. A cobbled area in the entranceway had been repaired or resurfaced on at least<br />

one occasion.<br />

A figure-<strong>of</strong>-eight structure comprising a large semi-circular structure with an attached<br />

northern annex was situated in the centre <strong>of</strong> the enclosure. It was defined by a slot-trench<br />

measuring a maximum <strong>of</strong> 11m by 9m internally. Charcoal from the slot-trench and from the<br />

central oak post-hole produced calibrated 2Σ dates <strong>of</strong> A.D. 765-1017 and A.D. 855-1274.<br />

A large number <strong>of</strong> pits and postholes were identified in the southern part <strong>of</strong> the interior <strong>of</strong> the<br />

building which was partly delineated by a shallow east-west linear trench. Very little<br />

stratigraphic evidence survived and no distinct occupation layers were identified within its<br />

interior. <strong>The</strong> fill <strong>of</strong> the linear trench produced a green glass bead with yellow paste<br />

herringbone decoration and a shallow pit north <strong>of</strong> this trench contained a dark blue glass<br />

bead. A hone-stone was recovered from the building’s central post-hole. <strong>The</strong> slot-trench <strong>of</strong><br />

the building produced part <strong>of</strong> a glass armlet with white decoration, an iron knife, a socketed<br />

iron implement, a flint scraper, some horse teeth and the top <strong>of</strong> an adult human skull (aged<br />

435

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