1997:533 - KIL:11, Killoran, Tipperary

This site was uncovered during monitoring of soil-stripping for a sand/gravel quarry for the Lisheen Mine. A rescue excavation was undertaken, revealing a linear pit cutting a large linear field ditch, with an associated posthole and modern drain. The site was located 12m east of the courtyard of Killoran House, a large manorial country house dating from at least 1783. The presence of topsoil finds dating from that period suggested that a substantial level of cultivation took place in the fields around the back of the house. The earliest feature revealed on the site was a linear V-shaped ditch, orientated east–west, measuring over 1.45m in width and 0.6m in depth. This was cut by a subrectangular pit orientated east–west, slightly offset from the ditch, measuring 2.5m in length, 1.32m in width and 0.3m in depth. The base of the pit contained charred timbers and charcoal; the northern side of the pit showed evidence of burning. The upper fill contained a large quantity of small and medium-sized limestone boulders within a matrix of silty clay and charcoal. This suggested use as a roasting pit owing to the presence together of stones, charred wood and in situ burning.

Rath House, Ferndale Road, Rathmichael, Co. Dublin