County: Tipperary Site name: KIL:03, Killoran
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 97E0036
Author: Paul Stevens and John Ó Néill, Lisheen Archaeological Project, for Margaret Gowen & Co
Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous
Period/Dating: Neolithic (4000BC-2501 BC)
ITM: E 620339m, N 666827m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.752123, -7.698719
A number of pits and gullies were uncovered over an area of 35m x 10m during stripping for an access road. One of the gullies, which ran along the eastern limit of the site, was a stone-filled post-medieval field drain. A number of other features along the eastern side of the site, such as burnt spreads and some ground disturbance, are probably also related to a post-medieval field boundary. These were mostly confined to the northern half of the area excavated, which also included a small number of pits and possible post-holes.
In the southern part of the trench, two parallel gullies and a number of other features provided evidence of a Neolithic presence in the area. The two gullies were orientated south-east/north-west and were filled with a mid-brown sandy clay, charcoal and a reddish clay. The north gully was 7m long and pits appear to have been dug at either side of its western end, which ran into the baulk. These pits, 1.2m and 2m in diameter, seem to have been contemporary with the gully. The gully varied from 0.9m to 1.35m in width and was up to 0.5m deep, with straight sides and a flat base.
The southern gully had a similar shape and fill to the northern gully, and some undecorated coarseware was found near the base. This had a corky untempered fabric and is likely to be Neolithic in date. This gully was 5.5m long, 0.8m wide and up to 0.5m deep. Two pits had been dug on its southern side, again contemporary with the original cut.
A large pit, 2m in length, was co-linear with the southern gully and formed a rough north-west/south-east alignment with the end of the northern gully and a number of pits. These lay in the area immediately north of the gully, and at least one contained what appeared to be packing-stones. Finds from this area included a number of pieces of struck chert and a sandstone ‘spud’.
The exact nature of the site is uncertain, but it is possible that some form of structure was present.
Minorco Lisheen Ltd, Killoran, Moyne, Co. Tipperary
