2005:1456 - OWEN’S & BIGG’S LOT/LOUGHFEEDORA/BALLINREE/SHANBALLYDUFF/RACECOURSE DEMESNE/TEMPLENOE/DOGSTOWN/MARLHILL, Tipperary

Testing was carried out along a 6km stretch of the proposed route of the N8 Cashel–Mitchelstown road. A total of 16,744 linear metres of test-trenches (1.8–2m wide) were excavated and fifteen sites of archaeological potential were identified. Further testing along the route was carried out under separate licences (see Nos 1403, 1412 and 1404, Excavations 2005, 05E0875, 05E0877 and 05E0878). A small isolated hearth (Site 14) was resolved during testing.

Site 1, Loughfeedora
Post-holes and spread
207416 138243
Three post-holes were located on a north-west/south-east alignment. They measured 0.18–0.42m in diameter. Approximately 0.1m west of the post-holes was a spread of brown charcoal-rich silty sand. This site is likely to be related to Sites 2 and 3, which are located nearby.

Site 2, Loughfeedora
Habitation
207400 138213
Three pits, one post-hole and ten stake-holes were found within an area measuring up to 20m2. The largest pit had a diameter of 1.8m. Nine stake-holes were uncovered in a cluster, with a further one outlying the group to the south. The largest stake-hole had a diameter of 0.09m. It is likely that these features represent the remains of a prehistoric habitation site.

Site 3, Loughfeedora
Burnt spread
207361 138164
An isolated subcircular burnt spread was uncovered to the south-east of Sites 1 and 2. It consisted of a spread of red/grey silty sand with charcoal. It had a maximum diameter of 0.53m. No other features were apparent, but the feature may be related to those found at Sites 1 and 2.

Site 4, Loughfeedora
Remains of 19th-century dwelling, outhouse and cobbled yard
207205 138001
The foundation walls of the dwelling house were clearly identifiable and consisted of large cut limestone blocks. It measured 8m by 5m, including wall widths. The footprint of an adjoining shed was evident to the north of the main dwelling. A large cobbled yard measuring c. 20m by 10m extended from the front of the house.

Site 5, Shanballyduff
Small kiln and pit
206813 137444
This site consisted of a linear feature measuring c. 1.2m north-east/south-west by 0.35m. It appears to be lined with clay, reddened by intense heat. The fill is a dark-blue/black charcoal-rich sandy silt. Located 0.75m to the north-west was a roughly circular-shaped pit. It contained a compact clay with frequent charcoal inclusions.

Site 6, Shanballyduff
Prehistoric habitation
206724 137237
This site may represent the remains of a structure. It consisted of a circular burnt feature surrounded by post-holes, stake-holes and two curvilinear features. The circular burnt feature was filled with fire-cracked stones. It appeared to be centrally placed and is likely to have been a hearth or pot-boiler.

Site 7, Shanballyduff
Linear feature containing burnt material
206218 136505
A single linear feature comprised this site. It was aligned north-west/south-east and measured 2.66m by 0.67m. It was filled with dark-grey silty clay packed with fire-cracked stones, probably residual burnt-mound material. It is probable that this site is related to Site 8, located 30m to the south-west.

Site 8, Shanballyduff
Burnt features
206192 136475
This site comprised seven features. Most contained burnt material and one was indicative of burning in situ. The features were spread across an area measuring c. 8m2.

Site 9, Templenoe
Burnt spread
206382 136005
A thin irregular-shaped burnt spread was uncovered. It was composed of a grey/black silty sand. No other features were apparent after a large area of the surrounding subsoil was exposed.

Site 10, Templenoe
Flat cemetery
206442 136005
This site consisted of 42 pits, at least seven of which appeared to contain cremated bone. Some also appeared to contain pottery fragments. The site covered an area measuring c. 12m2. A large area was opened up around the site, but no enclosing feature or other outlying features were found.

Site 11, Dogstown
Three burnt features
206402 137677
This site consisted of three sub-oval-shaped pits. They all contained fire-cracked stone mixed with grey silty sand and charcoal. The pits measured up to 1.6m long are were located 0.6–1.5m away from each other. The fill of the pits may be residual burnt-mound material similar to that found in the feature at Site 12.

Site 12, Dogstown
Linear feature
206404 137675
This site consisted of a linear feature measuring 9m long and 0.7m wide. It was aligned roughly east–west and curved slightly northwards at the eastern end. It contained fire-cracked stone and charcoal-rich sandy silt.

Site 13, Dogstown
Possible Neolithic house
206385 134556
This site consisted of a linear slot-trench which appeared to have survived well at the southern end but was apparently badly truncated at the northern and western sides. The trench was up to 0.6m wide, becoming more shallow and narrow towards the northern end. It measured up to 6m long, but a return or continuation of the trench could not be found for the northern and western sides. Three circular post-holes marked the southern edge of the possible structure. Two of the post-holes could mark the position of the doorway. An internal post-hole was also noted.

Site 14, Marlhill
Hearth
206305 133756
This site consisted of a single pit feature. Since the feature was quite slight and isolated, it was fully resolved during the testing phase. The pit measured 0.7m by 0.8m and 0.1m deep. It was filled by grey sandy silt with no obvious inclusions. The pit had a gradual break of slope and a U-shaped profile.

Site 15, Marlhill
Two pits, burnt mound and linear feature
206255 133306
This site comprised two small pits and a spread of burnt-mound material as well as a linear feature. The linear feature ran to the south-east and south-west of the burnt-mound material and was probably a palaeostream. The site covered an area measuring 15m by 15m.

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