2007:1592 - SITE AR31, BORRIS AND BLACKCASTLE, Tipperary

Excavation continued on this site and was completed in October 2007, in advance of construction of the M8/N8 Cullahill to Cashel road scheme (see Excavations 2006, No. 1931 for preliminary report). Prior assessment was carried out by Bernice Molloy of Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd in 2005/2006 (Excavations 2005, No. 1388, A027/023). The site was located on either side of the Black River, on gentle undulating ground, immediately south of the medieval borough of Twomileborris, adjacent to a tower-house (Black Castle, TN042–052(01)) and ruined church and graveyard (TN042–052(02)). The site was located west of two sites also excavated for this road scheme: a flat cremation cemetery located 200m east and on the highest point of a ridge overlooking the site (Excavations 2006, No. 1932, E2375), and a large multi-period complex of enclosures 250m east, on the south-east slope of the ridge (Excavations 2006, No. 1933, and No. 1591 above, E2376).
Prehistoric round house
A prehistoric round house was excavated 110m east of the Black River. This measured 6.5m in diameter and was defined by a series of internal post-holes, a curvilinear wall slot, with an east-facing entrance and an annexe or porch feature to the east. An alignment of 78 stake-holes, 1.5m north-east of the house, may represent a fence or windbreak 5.7m long. Several pits were revealed in the vicinity of the round house, including one example that produced a flint scraper.
Ring ditches
Two circular ring-ditches were excavated, measuring 4.92m and 4.7m in diameter. These had shallow ditches, measuring between 0.5m to 0.25m wide and 0.14–0.12m in depth. Small quantities of cremated bone and charcoal were retrieved from the ditch fills. A third, subrectangular, burial enclosure ditch, 80m east of the river, measured 5.36m long and 3.9m wide. This contained a central cremation pit. Small quantities of cremated bone and charcoal were retrieved from the ditch fill.
Medieval structure
Excavation on the west/left bank of the Black River revealed the remains of several medieval and post-medieval shallow ditches, two partially enclosing a 13th/14th-century rectangular sod or earthen walled structure, with four internal floor levels. The structure was located 5m west of the river. The lowest levels comprised coarse sands and gravels, which are thought to have acted as a subfloor foundation and facilitated drainage. The floor surfaces were constructed of compacted clay, flagstones and small cobbles. An internal drain, stake-holes, post-holes and hearths were identified. Internal finds included a lead weight, bone spindle-whorl and an iron chisel, whilst upper levels produced hammer scale, indicating a phase of use related to metalworking.
Externally, excavation revealed an associated metalled surface to the east, an irregularly shaped midden deposit to the south and a rectilinear drainage gulley to the north. Finds included medieval pottery, a silver farthing, a silver halfpenny, six copper marigold-shaped buttons, seven iron knives, a copper buckle, an iron arrowhead and metallurgical residues.
Medieval mill
Excavation on the east/right bank of the Black River revealed a medieval vertical watermill constructed on alluvial sediments. The wheelhouse, wheel pit and the water management system were fully excavated. The three surviving walls of the wheelhouse defined an area 7.2m long by 3.8m wide. The walls were built of mortared limestone blocks. Adjacent to this, large pits cut alluvial deposits into bedrock and were backfilled with large angular limestone blocks. Above the pits were large oak timbers used to support an undershot waterwheel. A medieval silver penny was recovered from between the timbers. Another penny and medieval pottery were found at the junction of the wheel pit and the tail-race; a millstone fragment was also found adjacent to the wheelhouse.
Post-medieval mill
Further downstream, and 50m north of the medieval mill, was a possible post-medieval mill that may relate to the ‘cornmill in good repair’ noted in the Down Survey. This was partially excavated and subsequently preserved in situ; the identified remains comprise the corner of a stone structure, fed by a long headrace.
Metalworking
Excavation of a west-facing terrace, 20m east of the Black River, revealed a metalworking complex, which comprised five furnaces, several shallow pits containing metallurgical residues and a rectangular area rich in hammer scale. Several large and deep pits were also situated in the vicinity of the metalworking area. The deepest pit measured 1.3m in diameter and 1.8m in depth. This contained a coin hoard of 55 medieval silver pennies and a carved bone handle.
Kilns
To the east of the Black River, within an area containing several medieval enclosure and boundary ditches, two cereal-drying kilns were also excavated. Both were dumbbell-shaped with drystone-built flues. The larger example measured 8.6m long, 3m wide and 0.66m in depth. Both contained deposits of carbonised cereal grain.
Early modern limekiln
A large limestone-built limekiln, indicated on the first-edition OS map, was excavated on the west side of the river. It was built into the south-east-facing slope of a low hillock, 6m south-west of the existing N75. It was square, with a vertical, stone-lined cylindrical cavity or flue at its centre. A small circular pit, used in the production of hydraulic lime, was adjacent to the limekiln. The slaked or hydraulic lime may have been used in the construction of the limekiln.
Mass path
A linear cobbled surface, 2.1m wide, extended beyond the limits of excavation. This represented the ‘path’ indicated on the second-edition OS map and referred to by the landowner as a ‘mass path’.