Pit in Sallymount

In gently undulating pasture, c. 1.5km to SE of the River Shannon. Not depicted on OS historic mapping. Identified by Tracy Collins in 2006 during test trenching (Ministerial Direction Order A026/171, NRA Reg. E2324) prior to the construction of the Southern Limerick Ring-Road and excavated in the same year by Aidan Harte as part of Gortnalahagh Site 1 (Harte 2011, 4). The remains of a charcoal rich pit (0.9m x 0.7m; D 0.15m) and two hearths (Harte 2011, 4). The results of the excavation and radiocarbon dating of the site confirmed that this was a charcoal pit kiln of Medieval date (ibid). One of the hearths was interpreted as a spread of ex situ material from the kiln whilst the other as fulfilling domestic functions for those attending the kiln (ibid). See attached location plan from excavation report. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 2 July 2020