County: Tipperary Site name: DER226, Killoran
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 96E0298ext.
Author: Paul Stevens, Lisheen Archaeological Project, for Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd.
Site type: Road - unclassified togher
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 622123m, N 666274m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.747084, -7.672321
Iron Age
This site was revealed during resurvey of the western TMF area. Subsequent excavation established it to be a complex three-phase trackway, orientated east–west and built/rebuilt between 466 BC and 161 BC. The site was constructed across an area of marginal forest peat that became increasingly wetter through time from the influence of two bog systems.
Phase 1
This consisted of two elements: heavy oak half-splits and longitudinal roundwood, occasionally pegged in place, packed up against the oaks to form a narrow walking surface. It measured up to 15m in length, 4m in width and 0.35m in depth and extended across an area of wet carr forest within. This phase was dendrochronologically dated to between 475+9 BC and 450+5 BC (Q9480 and Q9476M).
Phase 2
This construction extended the length and width of the previous structure and measured 19m in length, 3–4.4m in width, and 0.16–0.5m in depth. It was constructed of criss-crossed diagonal roundwood, the majority laid north-west/south-east, and occasional large split timbers secured by a line of pegs.
Phase 3
This phase was substantially larger than the previous constructions. This trackway measured 40m in length, up to 6.8m in width, and 0.35m in depth. It was constructed of diagonal roundwood laid north-east to south-west and dendrochronologically dated to 161+9 BC (Q9475M).
Rath House, Ferndale Road, Rathmichael, Co. Dublin
