2003:1783 - MONADREELA (Site 9), Tipperary

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Tipperary Site name: MONADREELA (Site 9)

Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 03E0345

Author: Neil O'Flanagan

Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous

Period/Dating: Multi-period

ITM: E 609598m, N 641884m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.528237, -7.858545

Site 9 was excavated in advance of construction of the N8 Cashel Bypass and N74 Link Road. Phase 1 testing by Anne Marie Lennon (Excavations 2002, No. 1744, 02E0374) highlighted a number of features of archaeological significance, including a series of ditches dating to the medieval period. A portion of the medieval ditches was exposed in test-trenches ET 3 and 5 and a 14C date of BP 810±65 was obtained from the fill of an east-west trench.

The subsequent excavation exposed numerous features, including a small Bronze Age structure, a curvilinear series of post-holes and a large medieval settlement with boundary ditches and other long linear cuts and gullies. Finds included numerous medieval pottery sherds, prehistoric pottery and a flint scraper.

The entire field appears to have been enclosed in the medieval era and domestic structures constructed on the lower sandy slopes overlooking the marshland. The small circular prehistoric structure was situated on the higher ground, as was a group of post-holes forming a relatively large semicircle. The post-holes appear unrelated to the medieval features and are likely to be prehistoric.

3 Manor Street, Stoneybatter, Dublin 7