2007:1683 - GREENHILLS (3), Tipperary

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. The site was divided into two, Areas 1 and 2, with Area 1 located 34m to the west of Area 2.

Area 1
In Area 1 a total of three burnt mounds, seven troughs (two of which had four stake-holes each in the bases) and two pits were revealed during excavation. Burnt mound 1 measured 12m long, 11.6m wide and 0.2m thick and it was formed by a layer of charcoal-rich black sediment and burnt stones. This burnt mound overlay four troughs, one of which was cut by four stake-holes. Burnt mound 2 measured 6.35m long, 4.08m wide and 0.2m thick and comprised a layer that was rich in charcoal and heat-shattered stones. It covered one pit and one trough which had four stake-holes cut into the base. The third burnt mound comprised a single layer of burnt-mound material that measured 7m long, 4.3m wide and 0.13m thick and covered one trough and two pits. A seventh trough was not covered by any of the burnt mounds.

Area 2
In Area 2, three burnt mounds and four troughs were excavated. The first burnt mound in Area 2 (Mound 4) comprised thirteen layers of burnt-mound material rich in charcoal and heat-shattered stones. This was associated with a trough that was cut by sixteen stake-holes and a small rectangular pit. These features may have been used to support trough lining or a cover over the trough. Two pits were overlain by the layers of Mound 4 but they had no significant features or finds. Burnt mound 5 comprised a layer of charcoal and heat-shattered stone, 10.32m long and 0.42m thick (width unknown as this was only visible in section). It was probably associated with two troughs, both of which had stake-holes cut into their bases. Mound 6 comprised a layer of charcoal and heat-shattered stones that was 9m long, 8m wide and 0.16m thick. The layer overlay a trough and the base of this trough was cut by seven stake-holes.