Excavation — miscellaneous in Doohyle More

Excavation by Brian Halpin (02E0634) when 'topsoil-stripping on Bord Gáis Éireann's Pipeline to the West uncovered a series of pits and furrows in Doohyle More townland, Co. Limerick. Initial monitoring reports identified this site as a possible Neolithic house, but subsequent investigation has proven it to be a series of furrows and irregular pits of indeterminate age. After the site was cordoned off, heavy machinery tracked over the central part, impinging on some of the features. The site contained numerous pits and furrows. Most of the furrows were narrow, disjointed, aligned south-east/north-west and very shallow (maximum depth 0.05m). Interspersed throughout were several cut features that showed evidence of burning. Two of these pits were of particular interest. The first was sub-oval in plan and U-shaped in profile, with steeply sloping sides and a flat base. The base showed evidence of intense burning in situ, with the entire surface of the pit, both base and sides, lined with fire-reddened clay. In the base were three smaller, subcircular, U-shaped cuts aligned in a triangular fashion, which may have been post-holes. Several distinct layers of fill, all with moderate to frequent inclusions of charcoal, were recorded. The feature had evidence of burning on the surface and was seen as a possible firing pit, probably for cooking. The post-holes may have been used to support some kind of structure for cooking. The second feature of interest was a deep, U-shaped, subrectangular pit measuring 3m east-west by 2.5m with a maximum depth of 0.6m. This also showed evidence of in situ burning sporadically throughout the base. The cut had three fills, only one of which had large amounts of charcoal and burnt wood. It may also have been a roasting pit and appeared to have been used in a single episode of burning, as the higher fills were more likely to be the result of natural sedimentation. An accurate date cannot yet be established for this site, but it appeared to be at least medieval and was possibly associated with agricultural activity. Although numerous other pits and cuts were recorded, no finds were recovered from any of the features on the site.' 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: 8 August 2012