County: Tipperary Site name: KIL:04, Killoran
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 97E0051
Author: Paul Stevens, Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd.
Site type: Flat cemetery
Period/Dating: Bronze Age (2200 BC-801 BC)
ITM: E 621276m, N 666670m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.750676, -7.684838
During monitoring of topsoil-stripping over a very large area for the construction of a rock stockpile for the Lisheen Mine a number of small pit features were revealed. Archaeological excavation revealed a cluster of post-pits and small pits within an area measuring 7m in length and 5.8m in width, roughly aligned north-west/south-east. The cluster produced at least two cremations: the first was within an oval pit, 0.6m east–west, 0.5m north–south and 0.2m in depth, filled by a matrix of charcoal lumps and silty clay containing a small concentration of tiny burnt bone fragments. The second cremation was contained within an upturned crushed pot, rammed into a V-shaped pit measuring 0.15m in diameter and 50mm in depth. Tiny fragments of crushed cremated bone were contained within the pit within a matrix of silty clay and virtually no charcoal.
The coarseware pot was similar to those found at the settlement (KIL:08, No. 536 Excavations 1997) and within the cemetry (KIL:10, No. 537 Excavations 1997). The cremations were located within a loose linear alignment of postholes and pits representing an attempt to mark their location. Samples of the fills are being analysed for further token cremation material. The site was located along a ridge of raised ground overlooking a marshy plain to the east and a brook to the west. It was located 12m west of the fulacht fiadh KIL:05 (No. 529 Excavations 1997) and may be associated with isolated cremations at KIL:06 (No. 530 Excavations 1997), 18m to the south, and KIL:07 (No. 531 Excavations 1997), 10m to the north, also along the line of the ridge.
Rath House, Ferndale Road, Rathmichael, Co. Dublin
