2007:1678 - GORTYBRIGANE, Tipperary

Archaeological investigation in advance of the N7 Nenagh to Limerick high-quality dual carriageway road project at E2487, Gortybrigane, took place during October 2006. Excavations comprised three areas.

A026/027
This area was found to contain a large number of pits, linear features and possible post- and stake-holes. The site was located on a gentle north-facing slope. It must be noted that the features were poorly defined as a podzolic soil horizon had developed over and within some of the archaeological cuts; therefore in advance of further post-excavation work any interpretation is tenuous.

The main concentration of features occurred within a roughly oval area in the south-east of the site. This concentration was defined on the north-west and north-east sides by six irregular pits measuring between 1m and 3m across as well as a number of smaller irregular pits. The fills of these pits contained occasional flecks of charcoal and three of them contained poorly preserved sherds of prehistoric pottery. The south-west side of the concentration was defined by a linear feature measuring 0.5m wide (north-east/south-west) by c. 12m long and 0.2m deep. A similar parallel linear feature was identified c. 2m to the north, this feature measured c. 6m long. The fills of both were rich in charcoal. Close to these linear features was a shallow curvilinear ditch/gully measuring 0.39m wide by 0.04m deep. This ditch enclosed an area measuring c. 5m in diameter and a possible entrance was identified on the north-west side. A large irregular pit measuring 3.3m long (north–south) by 1.8m wide and 1.95m deep was located within the enclosed area. The pit had seven fills including charcoal and oxidised material. 48 sherds of prehistoric pottery were found within the upper four fills. A compacted stony spread measuring 2.54m long by 1.43m wide was located on the northern side of the pit within the enclosed area.

Towards the centre of the rectangular concentration of features c. 30 pits, possible post-holes and possible stake-holes were identified. It is likely that these features represent one or more structures. Further post-excavation work will allow for a more detailed interpretation.

Outside the main concentration of features, 23 irregular pits were identified spread across the site. The most notable of these included a large rectangular pit measuring 4m long by 1.51m wide and 1.02m deep. There were a number of large boulders in the base of the pit and the upper fills contained charcoal. Other features in the vicinity of this pit included an irregular pit measuring 4m long by 1.8m wide and 0.7m deep and several smaller features. In the west of the site a number of stake-holes were cut in to the base of an irregular pit measuring 1.8m by 0.5m. In the north-west corner three shallow charcoal-filled pits with evidence of burning in situ were located as well as a number of irregular pits. It is likely that many of these features are related to the prehistoric activity identified in the south-east of the site; however, further post-excavation work is needed in order to substantiate this.

A026/046 (i)
This area had no features of archaeological significance.

A026/046 (ii)
This area was an extension of A026/046 (i) on the north, south and west sides. Two small burnt spreads (1.3m maximum dimension) consisting of silt, charcoal and small stones were identified. An isolated possible post-hole was also identified, measuring 0.26m by 0.23m and 0.16m deep, as well as a subcircular pit with evidence of in situ burning. The pit measured 2.12m by 0.48m and 0.4m deep and had a notable quantity of charcoal in the fills.

A026/046 (iii)
This area was located 25m to the north of A026/046 (i) and (ii). During Phase III testing two features were identified and resolved as part of the E2487 excavations. The features were both sub-oval pits with one cutting the other. Both were filled with charcoal-rich material with frequent inclusions of burnt bone. Further analysis of this burnt bone will determine if these features were cremation burials or the result of domestic activity.

A026/044 and A026/047
This area was located in a low point in the natural topography and was prone to waterlogging. The site was found to contain a fulacht fiadh consisting of a shallow mound of heat-shattered stone and charcoal measuring 11.6m (east–west) by 7m and 0.1m deep. The mound was overlying a large trough measuring 2.72m (north–south) by 2.44m and 0.68m deep. It was subcircular in plan and appeared to have been lined with boulders, which were in addition to the naturally occurring bedrock within the cut. A second possible trough was also identified. It was a shallow rectangular cut, measuring 2.6m long (north–south) by 1.4m and 0.24m deep, located adjacent to the large trough. Two further shallow spreads of burnt-mound material were identified within the site; both measured c. 1m across and between 0.15m and 0.17m deep.

Editor’s note: Although excavated during 2006, the report on this site arrived too late for inclusion in the bulletin of that year.