2000:0969 - TULLAHEDY (Sites T, U, V, W), Tipperary

The area surrounding Sites V (turlough) and W (ditches) was stripped by machine and cleaned by hand. However, no trace of Site V was detected, which suggests that the feature was natural. The ditches identified as Site W were identified; however, they were all clearly post-medieval/ modern field drains and boundaries.

Two large fulachta fiadh (F003 and F004) were identified to the south of the site. The oval spread F003 measured 21m by 36m, consisted of a coarse, black clay containing heat-cracked stone and charcoal flecks and was partially cut by a modern field boundary ditch (F051) to the north-west. A total of fourteen pits were uncovered beneath the spread, which were filled with a loose, black loam. One shallow, oval pit measured 2.76m by 3m and contained 26 small circular stake-holes around its circumference, which may have formed a small meat store adjacent to the possible trough. A second pit contained three post-holes, which may have formed the superstructure of a second hut or shelter.

The second fulacht spread (F004) was rectangular, measured 41m by 21.5m and was also cut by the modern field boundary F051, suggesting that it was once connected to F003. The spread consisted of a compact, black clay containing heat-cracked stone. Finds from this spread indicated that it had been disturbed by post-medieval and modern activity. These included a fragment of chert and a number of post-medieval items, including a late 19th-century metal button. A total of 30 small pits were uncovered beneath the spread, although no trough was identified.

The remainder of the site area, from the two fulacht spreads to the Nenagh–Limerick road, was dominated by numerous post-medieval/modern features. These included six modern field boundary ditches, pits and the foundation of a post-medieval structure that measured 3.2m by 2.2m. Prehistoric features dominated the site to the south-east and north-west. These included numerous pits, a spread, two linear ditches and a single post-hole. Two short, curved ditch sections were also exposed, which may once have formed part of a curvilinear enclosure. One ditch was 20m long, 1.55m wide at the widest point and 0.47m deep. A whetstone and a fragment of rotary quern were recovered from the fill.

The south-west corner of the site was dominated by a ringfort. The ditch was 2.4m wide by 0.9m deep. A number of post-medieval/modern finds were recovered from the later fills of the ditch, which suggests that the ditch remained open for a long period before being deliberately backfilled. The ringfort has been partially cut by the southern field boundary and by the modern N11 Nenagh–Limerick road. The interior of the ringfort is dominated by a small souterrain measuring 7.25m by 2.8m and containing what appears to be a single rectangular chamber connected to a possible creep to the north-west. The chamber had partially collapsed and had clearly been disturbed, as the side-walls had been robbed of stone in recent years. A number of wooden planks were uncovered at the base of the chamber, as well as a single large wooden beam or lintel. A 14C date of AD 661–8 was obtained from this beam. The interior of the ringfort contained a number of small pits, some of which contained fragments of burnt clay and iron slag, suggesting that some industrial activity took place on the site. No trace of any structures was exposed, although two linear slot-trenches exposed to the north-west may represent possible wall foundations.

The excavation to the east of the N11 Nenagh–Limerick road revealed the presence of two prehistoric enclosures. The smaller enclosure was originally subrectangular but was partially destroyed by the modern road. Only two sections of the enclosure ditch survive. One section is c. 1.2m wide and east–west-orientated for a distance of 9.8m; it then turns northwards for a distance of 9.62m. The interior of the enclosure contained six pits/post-holes. The second, oval enclosure is located to the north-east and is also partially cut by the modern road and a modern field ditch. This enclosure is c. 22m long, 0.4–0.6m wide and 0.6m deep. The interior contains five possible post-holes, ten small pits and three small stake-holes. A fragment of iron slag was recovered from the fill of F208. This was flanked on the east side by a small outer ditch c. 20.3m long by 1.7m wide. This ditch was obviously very short and was not intended to be defensive or to enclose the circumference of the enclosure.

15 Trinity Street, Drogheda, Co. Louth