County: Tipperary Site name: DERRYVILLE
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 02E0945
Author: Richard Crumlish
Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 620800m, N 668557m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.767660, -7.691781
Monitoring of topsoil-stripping at a development in Derryville, Co. Tipperary, was carried out between 29 May and 2 October 2002. The development consisted of the excavation of a borrow pit for the Lisheen Mine, and an area of 43ha was to be stripped.
The development was situated near the village of Templetouhy, in undulating pasture with occasional rock outcrop, surrounded by raised bog. In the centre of the development area was a recently deserted farmhouse with associated outhouses. A possible earthwork, SMR 36:5, near the northern boundary of the development site had been bulldozed a number of years previously.
The stratigraphy encountered was topsoil, 0.1–0.4m thick, above peat and various types of natural subsoil. The peat was visible along every side of the site. Where the peat was removed, it was seen to overlie a firm sandy clay loam.
Three burnt spreads and four potential sites, some of which on further investigation were seen to be natural, were uncovered. Two of the potential sites were charcoal spreads, and two were natural root systems.
The first burnt spread was at the edge of a west-facing slope, adjacent to an area of peat. It did not have a definite shape, probably owing to the disturbance caused by the bulldozer while stripping the topsoil. The spread measured 20m by 14m. Visible within were frequent heat-fractured stones. The second burnt spread was in a peaty area along a field boundary and measured 5.5m by 9.8m. The third burnt spread was roughly horseshoe shaped/ crescentic, with a narrow arm extending from its south-south-east end. The main part of the site measured 8.5m by 3m. Three smaller, outlying spreads lay around the main spread, to the north-west and south-east. The narrow arm extended for 10.8m and was 0.8–1m wide and 70mm thick at its south-south-east end (visible in section when the surrounding area was subsequently excavated).
A number of modern pottery sherds and modern glass fragments were visible in the topsoil. Two sherds of post-medieval or modern pottery found in the topsoil, to the north-west of the farmyard, have been sent for analysis.
The first burnt spread was fully excavated by the writer under a different licence, 02E1253 (No. 1721, Excavations 2002). The remaining two were left in situ and will be re-covered with topsoil.
61 An Cladrach, Castlebar Road, Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo
