County: Tipperary Site name: KNOCKALTON LOWER
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 98E0471
Author: Richard N. O'Brien, Archaeological Development Services Ltd.
Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous
Period/Dating: Bronze Age (2200 BC-801 BC)
ITM: E 590152m, N 677739m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.850488, -8.146196
The site, in Knockalton Lower townland, c. 3 miles east of Nenagh town, Co. Tipperary, and c. 1 mile south of the N7, consisted of two roughly linear ditches running approximately north-east/south-west. The southern end of Ditch No. 1 extended beyond the CPO line of the Bypass. The ditches were separated from each other by a 2m gap-no features were noted in this immediate area.
Ditch No. 1 was 17.5m long, 0.8m wide and c. 0.3–0.4m deep, terminating at the southern end of Ditch No. 2. Ditch No. 2 was 28m long, 0.6m wide and 0.45–0.5m deep. Both drains were roughly U-shaped in section and contained similar fills of charcoal-flecked clays. A number of possible posts/ pits and a fire spot were noted adjacent to the northern end of Ditch No. 2, possibly representing the remains of a temporary structure.
Finds included slag, charcoal, struck chert flakes, a rough-out for a stone axe, disarticulated animal bones, antler and the skeleton of a dog(?). The finds all came from the fills of both drains, and the slag may suggest a date in the Bronze Age.
The southern end of Ditch No. 1 continued into the adjoining field, where a roughly circular depression was noted. As this area was outside the CPO line no investigation could take place, but its close proximity to the ditches may suggest an association.
Windsor House, 11 Fairview Strand, Fairview, Dublin 3
