2006:1883 - KNOCKGRAFFON, Tipperary

Sites 143.2 and 143.3, located in the townland of Knockgraffon, Co. Tipperary, were excavated along a section of the N8 Cashel to Mitchelstown road improvement scheme. The sites were first identified during testing carried out in August 2005 (Excavations 2005, No. 1412, 05E0877).

Site 143.2 was located in a large undulating field of pasture that sloped gradually to the north. Following topsoil-stripping, the site consisted of two small charcoal-rich pits. Some truncation of the site had occurred prior to the excavation, as it had been stripped mechanically without the presence of an archaeologist. The area investigated measured c. 20m (east–west) by 20m. The larger of the two pits measured 1m in length, 0.9m in width and 0.17m in depth. The smaller pit measured 0.3m in length, 0.25m in width and 0.07m in depth. Both pits were filled with nearly identical charcoal-rich silty clays. The original function of these pits remains uncertain and no finds were recovered from either cut to indicate a possible date.

Site 143.3 was located in a relatively prominent position in a large undulating pasture field. The land sloped down steeply to the south and west and more gradually to the east and north. Following topsoil-stripping, the site consisted of a circular barrow. Some truncation of the site had occurred prior to the excavation, as it had been stripped mechanically without the presence of an archaeologist. The area investigated measured c. 35m (east–west) by 35m. The barrow was defined by a penannular ditch that measured 1.8–2.3m in width and 0.5–0.7m in depth. It enclosed a circular area that measured c. 5.4m in diameter. The sides of the ditch were steep and the base was V-shaped in profile along the southern and western sides and more U-shaped along the northern and eastern sides. A narrow entranceway defined by two rounded terminals and measuring only 0.2m in width was located along the north-eastern side of the barrow. A layer of redeposited natural was spread unevenly over the interior of the barrow. This deposit measured a maximum of 0.07m in depth and appears to represent residual mound material. The barrow ditch was filled by three distinct deposits. The bottom fill was formed by natural silting, while the secondary fill was a redeposited natural probably formed from mound slippage. The tertiary fill of the cut was charcoal-rich silty clay that contained frequent cremated bone, two small blue glass beads, two pieces of iron slag and two iron objects, possibly nails. A token cremation burial contained within a shallow pit was found at the centre of the barrow. A second shallow pit, containing more significant quantities of cremated bone, was found about 0.2m to the north of the barrow. A charcoal sample from the tertiary fill of the ring-barrow gave a calibrated radiocarbon date of 204–44 BC, while a sample from the central cremation burial gave a calibrated radiocarbon date of AD 233–395.

Post-excavation work for these sites is ongoing.

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