Archaeological Report - Kilgorteen, Co. Tipperary (Ireland)

Issue 11 [ISSN 2009-2237]

Archaeological Excavation Report

E3739 - Kilgorteen, Co. Tipperary

Hearth

Eachtra Journal

Hearth


Co. Tipperary

Laois County Council and National Roads Authority

Jacinta Kiely

Kilgorteen

EACHTRAArchaeological Projects

E No

:

:

Project:

Client:

E3739

N7 Castletown to Nenagh (Contract 1)

Jacinta KielyExcavation Director

Written by:

July 2011

CORKThe Forge, Innishannon, Co. Cork

tel: 021 4701616 | web: www.eachtra.ie | email: [email protected]

GALWAY Unit 10, Kilkerrin Park, Liosbain Industrial Estate, Galway

tel: 091 763673 | web: www.eachtra.ie | email: [email protected]


Kilgorteen Co. Tipperary

Excavation Director

Jacinta Kiely

Written By

Jacinta Kiely

EACHTRAArchaeological Projects

© 2011 The Forge, Innishannon, Co Cork

Set in 12pt Garamond

Printed in Ireland

i

Table of ContentsSummary��iii

Acknowledgements�� iv

1 Scopeoftheproject�� 1

2 Routelocation�� 1

3 Receivingenvironment�� 3

4 Archaeologicalandhistoricalbackground�� 3Mesolithic�(c��8000�to�4000�BC)�� 4

Neolithic�(c��4000�to�2000�BC)�� 4

Bronze�Age�(c��2000�to�600BC)�� 4

Iron�Age�(c��500�BC�to�AD�500)�� 6

Early�medieval�period�(c��AD�400�to�1100)�� 6

High�and�later�medieval�periods�(c��AD�1100�to�1650)�� 6

Post-medieval�period�(c��1650�to�the�present)�� 7

5 SiteLocationandTopography�� 7

6 Excavationmethodology�� 7

7 Excavationresults�� 10

8 Summary�� 11

9 References�� 15

Appendix1 Sitematrix�� 16

Appendix2 Groupsandsubgroups�� 17

Appendix3 Plantremains�� 19

ii

List of FiguresFigure1: TherouteoftheN7CastletowntoNenaghoverlainontheOrdnanceSurveyDiscovery

Seriesmap�� 2

Figure2: TherouteoftheN7CastletowntoNenaghoverlainontheOrdnanceSurveyDiscoverySeriesmapwithalltheexcavationsitesmarked�� 5

Figure3: PortionoftheIsteditionOrdnanceSurveyMapOF46showingthelocationofKilgor-teen�� 8

Figure4: LocationandextentofKilgorteenE3739ontheN7CastletowntoNenagh�� 9

Figure5: Post-excationplanofKilgorteen�� 13

Figure6: SectionofpitC�7�� 14

List of PlatesPlate1: AerialviewofKilgorteenfromwest�� 7

Plate2: Viewofareaofexcavtionfromwest��10

Plate3: Mid-excavationofhearthC�7fromwest�� 11

Plate4: Post-excavationofhearthC�7fromnorth�� 11

Kilgorteen -e3739

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http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e3739-kilgorteen-co-tipperary/

SummaryThe excavation of the site at Kilgorteen comprised a single hearth of unknown date.

Road project name N7 Castletown to Nenagh Site name KilgorteenE no. E3739Site director Jacinta KielyTownland KilgorteenParish BallymackeyCounty TipperaryBarony Upper OrmondOS Map Sheet No. TN21National Grid Reference 196284 179923

iSSUe 11: eachtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 archaeological excavation report

iv

AcknowledgementsThe project was commissioned by Laois County Council and was funded by the Na-tional Roads Authority under the National Development Plan (2000-2006). The project archaeologist was Niall Roycroft. Kildare County Council supervised the archaeological contract with RE staff of Pat Dowling and Colum Fagan. Kildare County Council Senior Executive Engineer was Joseph Kelly and Kildare County Council Senior Engineer was John Coppinger. The senior archaeologist was John Tierney and the post-excavation man-ager was Jacinta Kiely. Illustrations are by Maurizio Toscano, photographs by John Sun-derland and Eagle Photography and aerial photography by StudioLab. Specialist analysis was by Penny Johnston.

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1 Scope of the project Eachtra Archaeological Projects were commissioned by Laois County Council and the National Roads Authority to undertake archaeological works along 17.1 km (Contact 1) of the 35km N7 Castletown to Nenagh (Derrinsallagh to Ballintotty) national road scheme (EIS approved in November 2005). The scheme runs from the eastern junction of the present N7 Nenagh Bypass, North Tipperary a tie in to the M7/M8 Portlaoise-Castletown scheme to the south of Borris-in-Ossory in County Laois. The scheme is ap-proximately 191 hectares. Contract 1 comprises the western half of the scheme and runs from Clashnevin to Castleroan passing along the Tipperary North and Offaly county border regions. The Ministers Direction Number is A38.

It was funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2000-2006. The total archaeological cost was administered by the National Roads Authority through Laois County Council as part of the Authority’s commitment to protecting our cultural heritage. The purpose of the archaeological services project was to conduct ar-chaeological site investigations within the lands made available for the scheme and to assess the nature and extent of any new potential archaeological sites uncovered.

Phase 1 of the project (archaeological testing of the route) was carried out in 2007 under licence E3371, E3372 and E3375-8 issued by Department of the Environment Her-itage and Local Government (DoEHLG) in consultation with the National Museum of Ireland. The principal aim of this phase of the project was to test for any previously unknown sites by a programme of centreline and offset testing and to test sites of archaeo-logical potential identified in the EIS.

Phase 2 of the project (resolution) involved the resolution of all archaeological sites identified within the proposed road corridor prior to commencement of the construction of the road. This phase of the project was carried out from June 2007 to February 2008 and excavations were conducted under the management of a Senior Archaeologist. A total of 27 sites were excavated during this phase of works under separate licences issued by DoEHLG.

A post-excavation assessment and strategy document was prepared in Phase 3 of the project to present a management strategy for dealing with post-excavation work aris-ing from archaeological works along the route of the new N7 Castletown to Nenagh. It included a proposal for post-excavation and archiving work and a budget for the works.

2 Route locationThe route of the N7 Castletown to Nenagh road is located in Counties North Tipperary and Offaly (OF) (Figure 1). The project (Contract 1) involves the construction of c. 17.5 km of the N7 from Clashnevin east of Nenagh to Castleroan south-east of Dunkerrin. It passes through the townlands of Clashnevin, Derrybane, Newtown, Lissanisky, Killeisk, Garavally, Derrycarney, Garrynafanna, Gortnadrumman, Kilgorteen, Falleen, Knock-ane, Clash, Park, Rosdremid (OF), Clynoe (OF), Cullenwaine, Moneygall, Greenhills,

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Drumbaun, Busherstown (OF), Drumroe (OF), Moatquarter, Loughan (OF) and Cas-tleroan (OF). The townlands are located in the parishes of Ballymackey, Cullenwaine, Castletownely, Rathnaveoge, Finglas and Dunkerrin and the baronies of Upper Ormond, Ikerrin and Clonisk,

The route begins at the eastern end of the Nenagh bypass at Clashnevin c. 5 km east of Nenagh and continues eastward on the northern side of the existing N7 in Co. Tip-perary. It crosses a number of third class roads to the north of Toomyvara and 0.7 km east of Clash crossroads crosses the Ollatrim River. It extends into County Offaly directly east of Park. From here it crosses the R490 0.6 km north of Moneygall. It extends back in County Tipperary and through the demesne of Greenhills before crossing the existing N7 at the junction of Greenhills and Drumbaun townlands. It crosses back into County Offaly and climbs east into Busherstown and Drumroe. It crosses the Keeloge Stream into Moatquarter in County Tipperary and extends northeast back into County Offaly through the townlands of Loughan and Castleroan 1.4 km southwest of Dunkerrin.

3 Receiving environmentNorth Tipperary is bounded on the west by the River Shannon and Lough Derg with the Silvermines, to the south, and small hills extending towards Devilsbit and Borrisnoe Mountains to the east. The mountains are composed largely of Silurian strata and Old Red Sandstone. Copper, silver and lead deposits have been mined in the Silvermines. The geology of the lowlands consists of Carboniferous limestone covered by glacial drift in addition to tracts of raised bog.

The western portion of the study area is drained by the Ollatrim River which flows westwards into the River Ballintotty which in turns drains into the River Nenagh. The eastern portion is drained by the Keeloge Stream and other small water sources. These rise in the foothills of the Silvermine Mountains and flow north. The Keeloge drains into the Little Brosna River c. 1 km south of Shinrone, Co Offaly. The Brosna turns north and drains into the Shannon south of Banagher.

The largest population centre in the area is Nenagh. The smaller population centres, are Toomyvara, Moneygall and Dunkerrin.

The soils on the route are characterised by 80% grey brown podzolics, 10% gleys, 5% brown earths and 5% basis peat. They are derived from glacial till of predominantly Car-boniferous limestone composition. These soils occur in Tipperary and Offaly and have a wide use range being suitable for both tillage and pasture (Gardiner and Radford 1980, 97-99). Land use along the route was a mix of grassland devoted to intensive dairying and cattle-rearing and tillage.


4

4 Archaeological and historical backgroundArchaeological sites of numerous periods were discovered along the route of the new road (Figure 2). The periods are referred to as follows: Mesolithic (c. 8000 to 4000 BC), Neo-lithic (c. 4000 to 2000 BC), Bronze Age (c. 2000 to 600 BC), and Iron Age (c. 500 BC to AD 500), early medieval period (c. AD 500 to 1100), medieval period (c. AD 1100 to 1650), post-medieval period (c. AD 1650 to the present).

Mesolithic (c. 8000 to 4000 BC)The earliest known human settlement in Ireland dates from the Mesolithic period (c. 8000 BC - 4000 BC). The majority of the evidence (flint scatters) for Mesolithic occupa-tion has come from the river valleys. No evidence for the Mesolithic was recorded on the route.

Neolithic (c. 4000 to 2000 BC)The Neolithic Period is characterised by the introduction of agriculture and the begin-nings of the clearance of the woodlands. The population increased and became more sedentary in nature. The most important Neolithic site in the vicinity was at Tullahedy recorded on the route of the Nenagh by-pass. It was a specialist chert arrow manufactur-ing site.

No evidence for a Neolithic site was recorded on the route but stone tools dating to the Neolithic were recorded at Busherstown E3661, Clash E3660, Cullenwaine E3741 and Greenhills 2 and 3 E3637 and E3658. Stone tools dating to the late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age were recorded at Busherstown E3661, Castleroan E3909, Cullenwaine E3741, Derrybane 1 E3585, Drumroe E3773, Greenhills 1 E3638 and Moatquarter E3910

Bronze Age (c. 2000 to 600BC)The Bronze Age is characterised by the introduction of metallurgy and an increase in settlement and burial sites. Copper ores were mined and copper, bronze and gold items manufactured. The range of burial site types includes cist graves, pit and urn burials, cremation cemeteries, barrows, ring-ditches and wedge tombs. Stone circles and stand-ing stones also date to the Bronze Age. Both enclosed and unenclosed settlement sites are known. The most prolific Bronze Age site type is the fulacht fiadh. These monuments survive as low mounds of charcoal rich black silt, packed with heat-shattered stones, and generally situated close to a water source. Fulachta fiadh are generally classified as ‘cook-ing places’, whereby stones were heated in a hearth and subsequently placed in a trough of water, the water continued to boil with the addition of hot stones and wrapped food was cooked within the hot water. The trough eventually filled with small stones, ash and charcoal that were removed, forming the basis of the familiar mound.

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Two new fulachta fiadh or burnt mounds were recorded at Clashnevin 1 E3586, Cullenwaine E3741 and six at three separate locations in Greenhills, E3638, E3637 and E3658. Evidence of nine roundhouses or partial round structures were recorded; two at Castleroan E3909, Derrybane 2 E3591 and Drumbaun 2 E3912 and one at Clash E3660, Drumroe E3773 and Moatquarter E3910.

Iron Age (c. 500 BC to AD 500)Upto recently there was little evidence of a significant Iron Age presence in Munster. Settlement sites are few and far between as well as being difficult to identify (Woodman, 2000) while the material culture of this period is limited. Linear earthworks, believed to have marked tribal boundaries, and hillforts are two of the most visible monuments of the period. Ten percent of sites excavated on NRA road schemes in recent years have produced Iron Age dates. The dates have led to the identification of 30 new Iron Age sites in Munster from road schemes in counties Cork, Limerick and Tipperary (McLaughlin 2008, 51). These include a ditched enclosure in Ballywilliam and a wooden trackway in Annaholty Bog excavated on the route of the N7 Nenagh-Limerick (Taylor 2008, 54).

Early medieval period (c. AD 400 to 1100)The early medieval period is characterised by the arrival of Christianity to Ireland. The characteristic monument type of the period is the ringfort. Ringforts are the most nu-merous archaeological monument found in Ireland, with estimates of between 30,000 and 50,000 illustrated on the first edition of the Ordnance Survey 6” maps of the 1840’s (Barry 1987). As a result of continued research, the construction of these monuments has a narrow date range during the early medieval period between the 7th and 9th centuries AD. Although there are some very elaborate examples of ringforts, they often take the form of a simple earth or stone enclosure functioning as settlements for all classes of secu-lar society (Stout 1997).

North Tipperary is rich in early ecclesiastical sites and the remains of these religious centres are at the core of some of the towns and villages. Roscrea, for example, was chosen by St Cronan as a location for his monastery in the seventh century as it was located at the crossroads on the Slighe Dála, an important roadway in early medieval times (NIAH 2006, 4-8).

A possible early medieval enclosure and associated road way was recorded at Killeisk E3587. A denuded ringfort (OF046-013) was excavated at Clynoe 2 E3774.

High and later medieval periods (c. AD 1100 to 1650)This period is characterized by the arrival of the Anglo-Normans and the building of tow-er houses. The Anglo-Normans obtained charters in the thirteenth century for the towns of Nenagh, Roscrea, Thurles and Templemore and established markets. Nenagh grew rapidly in the aftermath of the granting of the lands of Munster to Theobald fitzWalter in

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1185 (ibid. 8). Moated sites represent the remains of isolated, semi-defended homesteads in rural areas. They were build mainly in the late thirteenth and early fourteenth cen-turies in counties, such as Wexford, Kilkenny, Tipperary, mid-Cork and Limerick, that were colonised by English settlers (O’Conor 1998, 58). The Archaeological Inventory for North Tipperary lists 39 moated sites (2002, 298).

A newly recorded moated site was excavated at Busherstown E3661.

Post-medieval period (c. 1650 to the present).The post-medieval period is characterised by mills, limekilns, workhouses, country hous-es and associated demesnes, vernacular buildings and field systems (Figure 3). A small demesne associated with a county house was recorded at Greenhills.

5 Site Location and TopographyThe site at Kilgorteen was located (Plate 1) on low lying leval ground at 100 m OD. The ground was used for pasture.

6 Excavation methodologyThe site was mechanically stripped of topsoil under strict archaeological supervision. Stripping was done with a tracked machine with a flat toothless bucket. Topsoil stripping commenced in the areas of identified archaeology and continued radially outward until the limit of the road take was reached or until the limit of the archaeological remains was fully defined. A grid was set up in the excavation area(s) and all archaeological features were sufficiently cleaned, recorded and excavated so as to enable an accurate and mean-

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ingful record of the site to be preserved. The excavation, environmental sampling, site photographs, site drawings, find care and retrieval, on-site recording and site archive was as per the Procedures for Archaeological works as attached to the licence method state-ments for excavation licences.

The site was excavated on the week of 26 September 2007. Only areas within the LMA were resolved. The full extent of the area of excavation measured 2215 m sq (Figure 4).

The full record of excavated contexts is recorded in the context register and the strati-graphic matrix (Appendix 1). Detailed stratigraphic descriptions are found in the groups and sub-groups text (Appendix 2). The context register maybe viewed in the EAPOD (Eachtra Archaeological Projects office database) in the accompanying CD.

7 Excavation resultsThree features were recorded in the area of the excavation (Figure 5, plate 2), a large pit C.7, a furrow C.3 and a natural feature C.5. The hearth C.7 was located in the centre of the area of excavation (Plate 3). It measured 2.9 m by 1.4m by 0.4 m in depth. Five fills were recorded within the cut (Figure 6). The central portion of the sides of the pit was heat scorched (plate 4). The basal fill was a thin layer of material isolated to one area of the hearth possibly representing initial use of the feature. The secondary deposit was a black silty with charcoal inclusions. The upper three fills were sandy silts washed into the hearth once it had gone out of use.

No ecofacts or artefacts were recovered from the fills of the hearth (Appendix 3) and no radiocarbon date was obtained.

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Plate3: Mid-excavationofhearthC�7fromwest�

Plate4: Post-excavationofhearthC�7fromnorth�


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8 SummaryThe isolated single pit was used as a hearth but it could not be assigned to a particular period. A large area in proximity to the pit was stripped of topsoil and no other archaeo-logical features, with the exception of the furrow and natural feature, stratigraphy or artefacts were recorded. Small clusters of ephemeral features were also recorded at other sites along the route e.g. Clashnevin 2 E3590 and Derrybane 1 E3585 further to the west but they consisted of a mixture of feature types e.g. small pits, post-holes and stake-holes.

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9 ReferencesFarrelly, J., and O’Brien, C. (2002) Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary Vol.

1 - North Tipperary, The Stationery Office Dublin.Gardiner, M.J. and Radford,T. (1980) Soil Assocaitions of Ireland and Their Land Use

Potential. Dublin, An Foras Talúntais.McLaughlin, M. and Conran, S. (2008) ‘The emerging Iron Age of South Munster’

in Seanda, Issue 3, 51-53. Dublin.National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (2006) An Introduction to the Architec-

tural Heritage of North Tipperary. Government of Ireland.O’Conor, K.D. (1998) The Archaeology of Medieval Rural Settlement in Ireland, Discov-

ery Programme Monographs No 3, Discovery Programme/Royal Irish Academy Dublin. Reimer, P.J., Baillie, M.G.L., Bard, E., Bayliss, A., Beck, J.W., Bertrand, C., Blackwell,

P.G., Buck, C.E., Burr, G., Cutler, K.B., Damon, P.E., Edwards, R.L., Fairbanks, R.G., Friedrich, M., Guilderson, T.P., Hughen, K.A., Kromer, B., McCormac, F.G., Manning, S., Bronk Ramsey, C., Reimer, R.W., Remmele, S., Southon, J.R., Stuiver, M., Talamo, S., Taylor, F.W., van der Plicht, J. and Weyhenmeyer, C.E. (2004) ‘IntCal04 Terrestrial Radiocarbon Age Calibration, 0–26 Cal Kyr BP’, Radiocarbon 46, 1029-1058.

Stuiver, M., and Reimer, P.J. (1993) ‘Extended (super 14) C data base and revised CALIB 3.0 (super 14) C age calibration program’, Radiocarbon 35, 215-230.

Stout, M. (1997) The Irish Ringfort. Dublin, Four Courts Press.Taylor, K. (2008) ‘At home and on the road: two Iron Age sites in County Tipperary’

in Seanda, Issue 3, 54-55. Dublin.Woodman, P.C. (2000) ‘Hammers and Shoeboxes: New Agendas for Prehistory’., pp.

1 -10 in Desmond, A., Johnson, G., McCarthy, M., Sheehan, J. and Shee Twohig, E. New Agendas in Irish Prehistory. Papers in commemoration of Liz Anderson. Bray, Wordwell.


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Appendix 1 Site matrix

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Appendix 2 Groups and subgroupsGroup 1 natural deposits This group describes the natural geological deposits identified across the area of

excavation.

Subgroup 1 TopsoilList of Contexts; C.1Description This subgroup describes the topsoil covering the archaeological features. It was a firm

mid greyish brown clayey silt.

Subgroup 2 SubsoilList of Contexts; C.2DescriptionThis subgroup describes the natural subsoil that formed across the area of excavation.

It was a soft mid brownish orange silty clay.

Group 2 hearthThis group describes a hearth located in the centre of the area of excavation.List of Contexts; C. [7], 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Description A single hearth [7] was located 11 metres south of the far northern limit of excavation.

It measured 2.85 m in length, 1.4 m in width and 0.4 m in depth. It was oval in shape with a concave profile and moderately steep sloping sides. It was filled by five deposits.

The primary deposit was a mid greyish brown sandy silt (12) and the secondary de-posit was a very soft dark black silty sand (10) with frequent flecks, small and medium pieces of charcoal inclusions. The third deposit was a firm mid greyish white silty sand (11), the fourth fill was a light greyish brown sand silt (9) and the last deposit was a light orangish brown sandy silt (8). These three fills all contained occasional flecks and small pieces of charcoal inclusions.

InterpretationThis cut represents a single hearth in the area of excavation. The primary fill was a

thin layer of material isolated to one area of the hearth possibly representing initial use of the feature. The secondary deposit was a heavy deposit of burnt material representing the main period of use of the hearth, indicated by the heavy concentration of charcoal mate-rial. The final three deposits were most likely naturally occurring deposits, washed into the hearth once it had gone out of use.


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The isolated nature of this feature, with no surrounding or related features in close proximity, indicates that it was most likely used for a short period, possibly as part of a small area of temporary habitation. With no further archaeological evidence from the feature it is difficult to determine an exact date for this hearth.

Group 3 agricultural features

This group describes two features in close proximity to one another to the west of the area of excavation.

Subgroup 1 FurrowList of Contexts; C. [3], 4Description A furrow [3] was located approximately 9 metres east of the far western limit of exca-

vation. It measured 1.6 m in length, 0.28 m in width and 0.05 m in depth. It was linear in shape with a concave profile and gently sloping sides. It was filled by a single deposit. The fill was a firm mid yellowish brown sandy silt (4).

InterpretationThis feature represents the only remains of agricultural activity in the immediate area.

The regular shape of the furrow indicates that it was excavated by plough rather than hand excavated.

Subgroup 2 Natural featureList of Contexts; C. [5], 6. Description A natural feature [5] was located approximately 8 metres east of the far western limit

of excavation. It measured 0.59 m in length, 0.51 m in width and 0.32 m in depth. It was irregular in shape and had irregular and undercut steeply sloping sides. It was filled by a single deposit. The fill was a firm mid greyish brown clayey silt (6) with moderate flecks and occasional small pieces of charcoal inclusions.

InterpretationThis feature represents the remains of a naturally occurring vegetation bole. The ir-

regular sizes and shapes and the lack of archaeological remains within the fills supports this theory. The charcoal inclusions within the fill may indicate that it was burnt out, possibly due to field clearance.

Kilgorteen -e3739

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Appendix 3 Plant remainsBy Penny Johnston

IntroductionThis report details the results of preliminary assessment work carried out on sieved

samples from Kilgorteen 1, Co. Tipperary (E3739). The site comprised a large hearth.

MethodologyThe samples were collected on site as bulk soil and were processed using machine-

assisted floatation (following guidelines in Pearsall 2000). The floating material (or ‘flot’) from each sample was collected in a stack of geological sieves (the smallest mesh size was 250mm).

When all the carbonised material was collected the flot was then air-dried in paper-lined drying trays prior to storage in airtight plastic bags. The samples were scanned un-der low-powered magnification (x 10 to x 40) using a binocular microscope. The results of preliminary scanning are presented in Table 1 at the end of this report. A total of 2 samples were scanned.

Recommendations for further analysis of charcoalCharcoal was present in both samples, it was noted as high frequency in one sample

and medium frequency in the second sample.

Recommendations for further analysis of plant remainsThere were no charred seeds in the samples from this site. No further analytical work

is required.

References

Pearsall, D. 2000 Paleoethnobotany: a Handbook of Procedures. New York, Academic Press.

Sample Context Charcoal Charred seeds

% scanned

3 10 High Absent 1007 12 Medium Absent 100

Table1:ScannedsamplesfromKilgorteen1,Co�Tipperary(E3739)

Archaeological Report - Kilgorteen, Co. Tipperary (Ireland)

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