County: Tipperary Site name: Drumbaun 2
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: E003912
Author: John Tierney, Eachtra Archaeological Projects, Ballycurreen Industrial Estate, Kinsale Road, Cork.
Site type: Pits and post-holes
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 604171m, N 681784m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.886917, -7.938013
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 Castleroan, passing along the Tipperary North and Offaly county border regions. Six areas of archaeology were uncovered during Contract 1 trial-trench testing. Drumbaun 2, Area 6.2, was tested under licence E3376 (see No. 1661 above) in 2007.
Six pits, four post-holes and a further three pits c. 60m to the north-east were uncovered during testing. Excavation revealed a number of phases of activity. Evidence of perhaps the earliest activity is provided by a number of cremation pits at the northern end of the site. Two circular houses (probably Bronze Age in date) and associated pits were excavated at the southern end of the site. A number of additional features were located north-west of these houses. A group of three pits containing iron slag were also excavated north-west of the houses. Several ditches were located at the north-east end of the site.
Structure A measured 7.5m in diameter and comprised a ring of nine post-holes. A total of four slot-trenches formed an external drip gully and four post-holes formed the entrance, which faced east. A line of eleven stake-holes and one post-hole, 4.2 long, formed an internal division within the house.
Structure B was located immediately south of Structure A. This second house measured 7.5m in diameter and comprised a ring of twelve post-holes. A series of fifteen stake-holes were associated with the footprint of the house, particularly on its western side. The interior of the house was characterised by a hearth, a pit and thirteen stake-holes. The entrance was to the east, flanked by two post-holes. A drip gully was found associated with this entrance.
Other post-holes, pits and stake-holes were found to the north-east and west of these two structures. Their function is as yet unknown. In addition, three pits containing iron slag were excavated north-west of the houses. These did not appear to be associated with any structures. Two cremation pits were also excavated. These were associated with a further six pits, located close by, that did not appear to contain any cremated bone.
Later ditches associated with agricultural activities were also excavated at the site.
