Aegis Archaeology - Excavations at Newtown

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Excavations

Newtown

Excavations at Newtown

Aerial shot of Newtown site

This site at Newtown was excavated in advance of the construction of the Limerick Southern Ring Road. It was initially identified in the course of test trenching in advance of the construction phase, and showed no above ground indications prior to archaeological works commencing.

Glass armlet and beads. Early med. period

The central structures were initially identified, as was a pit containing cremated bone and pottery. After the excavation began the true extent of the site became clear. Topsoil stripping revealed further archaeological features, and these were subsequently excavated.

A vast range of archaeological material was been excavated. This includes two houses of Bronze Age date, a burnt mound, seven pits containing funerary pottery and cremated bone, several pits interpreted as possible roasting pits, as well as a large sub-triangular enclosure, 50 meters in diameter with associated house sites and finds.

Bronze age funerary pottery & flint

The archaeological material uncovered spans at least 3,000 years, from the Bronze Age (c.2, 000 BC), represented by the houses and burial pits, up to the Early Medieval period (beginning c. AD 500), during which time the large enclosure was constructed.

Whet stone and knife. Early med. period

The large size of the enclosure, coupled with the quality of artefacts would suggest that this was a high status site in the Early Medieval period, and was constructed on top of a Bronze Age settlement and cemetery.