County: Tipperary Site name: TYONE
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 02E1413
Author: Ruth Elliott, for GCA Ltd.
Site type: Metalworking site
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 587023m, N 678518m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.852500, -8.189130
The site was a proposed residential housing development, measuring c. 300m by 200m, east of the road from Moanbeg to Fawnlough in the townlands of Moanbeg and Tyone. Monitoring (No. 1773, Excavations 2002, 02E1254) was carried out between 12 August and 6 September 2002 during the first phase of groundworks for the scheme. Two areas containing archaeological features were uncovered: Area 1, in the north-eastern part of the site, and Area 2, to the south-west. Rescue excavation was carried out in Area 1 from 2 to 6 September 2002; however, owing to insufficient budgetary allowance for archaeological provisions, the client requested that the excavation of Area 2 be postponed until the second phase of groundworks for the development.
The features in Area 1 were contained in an area of c. 20m by 30m. A linear U-shaped ditch ran north-north-west/south-south-east across the site, This was up to 0.12m wide and 0.5m deep, and its fills derived from natural silting and field clearance. Ceramics recovered indicated a post-medieval date for the ditch, which appeared to have functioned for drainage or land-division purposes.
In the northern part of the excavation area was an area of in situ burnt subsoil. This measured 0.9m by 1.2m and was up to 0.05m thick, with frequent charcoal flecks impressed on its surface. An oval pit, measuring 0.98m by 0.49m by 0.25m deep, lay c. 30m to the south-east. This contained dark, charcoal-rich soil and a large quantity of iron slag. Between these two features a number of irregularly shaped cuts were excavated, varying from 0.22m to 1.28m in maximum dimension and from 0.11m to 0.23m deep. The fills contained occasional to moderate quantities of charcoal.
With the exception of the ditch, most of the features in Area 1 appeared to be related to ironworking activities, most prominently evidenced by the pit containing iron slag. No immediately datable evidence was recovered from these features; however, three samples suitable for radiocarbon dating were retrieved. It is possible that related furnaces and metalworking features will be uncovered to the south and east, in the areas not stripped of topsoil during the first phase of groundworks. An excavation conducted by Niall Gregory c. 60m to the south (No. 1741, Excavations 2002, 02E1204) revealed a hearth that may be prove to be related to the material in Area 1.
Lower Green, Cashel, Co. Tipperary
