County: Tipperary Site name: LAHESSERAGH (SITE C)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 98E0474
Author: Richard N. O'Brien, Archaeological Development Services Ltd.
Site type: House - indeterminate date
Period/Dating: Prehistoric (12700 BC-AD 400)
ITM: E 584453m, N 676939m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.843166, -8.230763
The site lay in Lahesseragh townland, at the base of the incline that is crossed by the Ballycahill Road. It measured c. 17m x 24m. There were a number of bedrock outcrops, and portions of the site area were truncated by modern field drains.
A small, circular hut structure, consisting of a foundation trench 3.3m x 3.7m in diameter and 0.05–0.2m deep, was found at the north-east area of the site. This structure appeared to have an internal habitation layer 0.01–0.07m deep, consisting of a light brown, silty clay with charcoal flecking. Beneath this layer was a linear arrangement of three post-holes, with two smaller supporting post-holes situated off-centre. At the north-east corner of the structure a possible entranceway was revealed, where a 1.4m gap in the foundation trench had been left. To one side of this entrance was a single post-hole; the opposite side was disturbed by later activity.
To the south-west of this structure was a series of random pits and post-holes. The fill of one post-hole contained a stone spindle whorl of the disc-shaped type, with centrally bored perforation. Also in this area were two large rubbish pits. The larger example measured 2.3m x 1.9m in diameter, containing a 1m depth of clay and large stones. A rubbing stone, burnt bone, wood fragments and a saddle quern came from it. The smaller rubbish pit measured 2m x 1.5m in diameter, with a 0.6m depth of clay and large stones. A grinding stone, burnt bone and another saddle quern came from this pit. Further finds consisted of charcoal, animal teeth and chert flakes.
Two small areas to the immediate south of Site C were investigated in Tullahedy townland under the same licence. Tullahedy Site E turned out to be a portion of a field drain of possible Famine date. Tullahedy Site F consisted of five small, charcoal-filled pits within a 10m x 11m area. One of the pit fills contained much charcoal and burnt nut kernels. There were no datable finds from the pits.
Windsor House, 11 Fairview Strand, Fairview, Dublin 3
