What is recorded here

Goatisland, Croagh, Gort, and the N21 witnessed the birth of a tiny pit: one metre wide, barely thirteen centimetres deep, large enough for one fire and one quiet act of completion. The person dug through topsoil, kindled flame, watched it change the air, then poured the removed earth back over the ashes. That is why the base still carries red oxidation while the surrounding soil remains unmarked. A modern pipeline nearly erased the whole episode, but measurement preserved the smallest possible human shape: a circle of heat, a breath of smoke, and the decision to bury rather than forget.

According to Emer Dennehy (02E0577) 'the site was exposed during monitoring of topsoil-stripping along Section 3 of the Bord Gáis Éireann pipeline from Goatisland, Co. Limerick, to Gort, Co. Galway. It was situated south-east of the N21, close to Croagh in County Limerick. The site consisted of a single isolated pit measuring 1.1m north-south by 1m, with a maximum depth of 0.13m. Excavation revealed two fills in the pit, the primary being formed from the debris of a fire, resulting in oxidisation of the base. On cessation of use, the pit was backfilled; the fire was quenched with the throw-out generated from the original excavation, showing a single use of the feature.' This description is posted on the web at the following internet address (accessed 3 August 2012): http://www.excavations.ie/ Compiled by: Denis Power Date of Upload: 7 August 2012

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