2005:1444 - MIDDLEQUARTER, Tipperary

Testing of a proposed development site at Middlequarter, Newcastle, Co. Tipperary, was carried out as part of a pre-planning assessment. The proposed development site consists of a greenfield area adjacent to and within the constraint zone for a tower-house and bawn (SMR 88:32(02)). Six trenches were excavated on the site using a mechanical excavator. A total of 43 potential archaeological features were uncovered within the trenches. At least fourteen of these may represent agricultural features, as both cartographic and documentary evidence shows that the site was utilised as an orchard, possibly in the 17th century and certainly in the early 19th century. It is possible, therefore, that some of the linear features uncovered on the site may relate to this or other agricultural activity. A number of large ditch features were uncovered in Trenches 4–6. Three of these features (F29, F38 and F43) may be part of the same ditch, which appears to curve from the north-north-west to the south-east. It is possible that this represents at least one element of an enclosing feature located on the site. It is unclear, however, if these or any of the features uncovered relate to any period of use of the adjacent tower-house, as no datable finds were recovered.