County: Tipperary Site name: Ballycuddy More
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: E002483
Author: Kate Taylor, TVAS (Ireland) Ltd, Ahish, Ballinruan, Crusheen, Co. Clare.
Site type: Undated cremation cemetery, prehistoric domestic activity, burnt-stone-filled pits
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 579794m, N 675039m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.825938, -8.299802
This site was excavated in advance of the N7 Nenagh to Limerick road project at Chainage 23470–23640. The site was located in the foothills of the Arra Mountains, on an east-facing slope overlooking the Kilmastulla Valley. A small stream flowed north-west to south-east at the northern limit of the site and at the south the site was bounded by a minor road. Five areas (A–E) were investigated within the townland over an 180m length of the road route. Excavated features included pits, post-holes, hearths and cremation burials. There is some distance between the excavated areas and it is not clear whether the features are all related. Areas A and B were excavated between 15 September and 13 November 2006, while Areas C–E were excavated between 21 March and 13 April 2007.
Area A
At the northern end of the site three pits and two small spreads were excavated. The largest pit measured 2.4m by 1m and was 0.2m deep with a flat base. Although not consistently charcoal-rich, the pit fills and spreads did contain some heat-affected stone.
Area B
A single pit measuring 2.45m by 1.06m and 0.86m deep showed evidence of in situ burning. Three pieces of possible quernstone were recovered from the pit fill.
Area C
This area was at the southern end of the site, adjacent to a modern road. Nine apparent cremation burials and three pits that did not contain cremated bone were excavated. The pits were 0.36–0.6m across and 0.05–0.32m deep, typically with steep sides and a flat base. The pit fills were dark-brown or black sandy silts with charcoal inclusions and small amounts of cremated bone. Although the bone has not yet been identified to species, it is likely that these pits represent deliberate acts of burial, albeit with token deposits of bone.
Area D
Also at the south, close to Area C, this area contained one further possible cremation burial, six pits, three post-holes and a stake-hole, in no particular pattern. The most noteworthy feature was a large oval pit, measuring 1.5m by 0.85m and 0.23m deep, with steep sides and a flat base that showed evidence of in situ burning. This pit was filled with charcoal and was a recut of an earlier similar feature.
Area E
This was the largest area and was located in the centre of the site, north of the cremation burials. Intensive ploughing meant that furrows criss-crossed the site but a number of features were identified: seventeen pits, one hearth, three post-holes and three stake-holes. No obvious pattern could be identified that would indicate structural remains but the site may well be domestic in character. The pits were subcircular or oval, 0.23–1.1m across and 0.14–0.4m deep with a variety of profiles, none particularly regular. The features themselves were not spectacular; however, the artefactual material is noteworthy. Two chert arrowheads, a chert flake, a flint blade and c. 50 sherds of prehistoric pottery were recovered from the area.
It would appear that the site represents prehistoric domestic and possibly also funerary activity.
