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

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Limerick<br />

Sluggary, Co. Limerick<br />

Early Medieval Settlement Enclosure<br />

Grid Ref: R55905355 (155907/153550)<br />

SMR No: LI013-038<br />

Excavation Licence: E131<br />

Excavation Duration/year: June - July 1973; June – July 1974<br />

Site Director: E. Shee Twohig (University College Cork)<br />

A large trivallate enclosure at Sluggary, partially excavated in 1973 and 1974 in advance <strong>of</strong> a<br />

residential development, revealed internal habitation consisting mainly <strong>of</strong> a hearth, pits,<br />

stakeholes, animal bone and early medieval finds. <strong>The</strong> site was situated on well drained<br />

boulder clay just above 15m OD on the northern edge <strong>of</strong> Sluggary townland, 5km from<br />

Limerick city centre.<br />

Pre-enclosure habitation on the site was minimal except for the presence <strong>of</strong> animal bone<br />

inside the banks and the recovery <strong>of</strong> some postholes under the middle bank. Another possible<br />

early feature consisted <strong>of</strong> a red clay bank (0.15m thick and 2.0m wide) which ran east-west<br />

across the site and appeared to be edged by a line <strong>of</strong> stones along the south side <strong>of</strong> its<br />

eastern end.<br />

<strong>The</strong> trivallate enclosure was polygonal in plan and had a diameter <strong>of</strong> 40m-48m internally and<br />

70m-80m externally (Fig. 211). <strong>The</strong> inner (0.8m high by 3.8m wide), middle (0.5m high by<br />

2.3m wide) and outer (0.35m high by 2.5m wide) concentric banks were originally revetted<br />

with stone. External ditches were excavated outside the inner and middle banks and had<br />

maximum measurements <strong>of</strong> 1.5m deep by 2.6m wide; and 0.8m deep by 2.3m wide<br />

respectively. A single edged decorated bone comb and a possible bone handle were<br />

recovered inside the fill <strong>of</strong> the southern perimeter <strong>of</strong> the inner ditch.<br />

Internal features consisted mainly <strong>of</strong> stakeholes, post-pits and pits, some rich in animal bone<br />

and charcoal and cut into the red clay bank principally in the centre <strong>of</strong> the enclosure.<br />

Attempts to identify the ground plans <strong>of</strong> individual houses were unsuccessful though a<br />

number <strong>of</strong> stakeholes associated with patches <strong>of</strong> burnt earth and a hearth may represent the<br />

remains <strong>of</strong> a structure.<br />

<strong>The</strong> finds were principally recovered on the surface <strong>of</strong> the red clay banks or within or<br />

associated with the pits cut into it. Finds from the site consisted <strong>of</strong> ten knives, two needles,<br />

one saw, one key and bars, awls and nails. A copper-alloy ringed pin, button/stud and thin<br />

strip (from a composite object) and two fragments <strong>of</strong> fired clay, one a possible mould, were<br />

also recovered.<br />

Four furnace bottoms and one piece <strong>of</strong> slag from the interior <strong>of</strong> the enclosure suggest on-site<br />

iron smelting while one possible clay mould could also indicate metalworking. <strong>The</strong> animal<br />

bone assemblage originated mainly from ditch deposits and pit fills and was dominated by<br />

cattle bone (60%), followed by pig, sheep and other animals including horse, dog and red<br />

deer.<br />

441

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