County: Offaly Site name: Moneygall 1
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: E003636
Author: Jacinta Kiely, Eachtra Archaeological Projects, Ballycurreen Industrial Estate, Kinsale Road, Cork.
Site type: No archaeological significance
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 602429m, N 681497m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.884349, -7.963909
Phase 2 excavations along 17.1km (Contact 1) of the 35km N7 Castletown to Nenagh (Derrinsallagh to Ballintotty) national road scheme were commissioned by Laois County Council and the National Roads Authority. Contract 1 comprises the western half of the scheme and runs from Clashnevin to Castelroan, passing along the Tipperary North and Offaly county border regions. Six areas of archaeology were uncovered during Contract 1 trial-trench testing. Moneygall 1, Area 5.2, was originally tested under licence E3377 (see No. 1651 below) in 2007.
A possible wood trackway was uncovered after testing through peatland. The peat was removed by hand using plastic tools and the ends of all the wood were exposed. The material was examined by Mary Dillon, wood specialist, and the initial investigations showed that the wood was not worked and that the site did not contain a trackway or other archaeological finds or features.
The site at Moneygall 1 was split into two areas (Areas I and II). Investigation of Area I revealed a large tree trunk with an associated branch at right angles to the east. The trunk was 0.5m in maximum width, 4m in minimum length and at least 0.15m in depth. In the north-west quadrant of Area I a small cluster of possible tree roots was uncovered. In the south-west and south-east quadrants small branches were exposed. Investigation revealed that the tree trunk and associated branch were oak (Quercus spp). All of the wood in Area I had been compressed from the weight of the peat, giving it a flattened appearance. Fragments of hazelnut shells (Corylus avellana) and leaves of indeterminate species were also present in the peat. Specialist analysis determined that the exposed wood in Area I was not worked and was probably natural in origin.
Investigation of Area II exposed part of a large branch or trunk. It measured 0.15m in width, 2m in minimum length and 0.1m in depth. Smaller perpendicular woods were interpreted as branches, possibly from the same tree. The large branch or trunk was identified as oak (Quercus spp). The wood was compressed from the weight of the peat, giving it a flattened appearance. Specialist analysis determined that the exposed wood in Area II was not worked and was probably natural in origin.
This site was of no archaeological significance.
