What is recorded here

No visible mark remains of the Ballincurra burnt pit, yet stones aligned in a semicircle and charcoal-rich fills record repeated heat. The pit measured 3.5m by 2.25m, reached 0.18m deep, and held one small piece of burnt animal bone. It may have been a roasting place where people heated stones, cooked food and left behind a dark trace in ordinary pasture.

In pasture 245m E of the townland boundary with Rathcannon and 90m N of a stream. Not depicted on OSi historic mapping. Identified as a possible roasting pit (BGE 3/76/6) in 2002 by Ken Wiggins (Licence 02E0119) during topsoil-stripping on the Bord Gáis Éireann Pipeline to the West. Excavated in 2002 by Brian Halpin under licence No. 02E0524 the results of which were summarised as follows; ‘an irregularly shaped charcoal-rich pit in Ballincurra townland, Co. Limerick. The feature measured 3.5m north-east/south-west by 2.25m and sloped gradually from south to north, with an elongated U-shaped cut and a flat base with a maximum depth of 0.18m. It appeared to be a possible roasting pit. A variety of fire-reddened stones were found throughout and particularly at the base, where they seemed to be purposely aligned in a semicircle lying directly over the limestone bedrock that is very prevalent in this area. Interspersed throughout the stones at the base was the natural boulder clay, all of which was fire reddened. There were four fills, all of which were rich in charcoal and contained varying amounts of stone that may be the result of different episodes of firing. One small piece of burnt animal bone was recovered from the surface of the feature' (Halpin 2004, 296; Grogan 2007, 236-7). Monument has been fully excavated and is not visible on Google Earth orthoimage dated 14/09/2019. See attached location map. Compiled by: Martin Fitzpatrick Date of upload: 17 May 2021

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