2007:1690 - KILLALANE (Sites 11–13), Tipperary
County: Tipperary
Site name: KILLALANE (Sites 11–13)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A
Licence number: E003534
Author: Bruce Sutton, for Aegis Archaeology Ltd.
Author/Organisation Address: 32 Nicolas Street, Kings Island, Limerick
Site type: Pit and Structure
Period/Dating: Bronze Age (2200 BC-801 BC)
ITM: E 567457m, N 676539m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.784640, -8.355050
The three areas, labelled Sites 11, 12 and 13, were identified during monitoring of topsoil-stripping for Phase 2 of the N7 Nenagh to Limerick road project. The land was characterised by low hills and shallow streams rising to the south and north, with Site 13 located c. 300m to the south of Site 11 and Site 12 c. 75m to the north. Excavations were carried out between 25 June and 9 July 2007. Site 12 contained no archaeological features and Site 13 consisted of a single shallow rectangular pit with four stake-holes, one in each corner.
Site 11 consisted of a number of stake- and post-holes associated with areas of heat-affected natural as well as several features associated with field clearance (i.e. tree boles and plough furrows). The activity was located primarily in the north-eastern corner of the site, where a single area of burning was surrounded by a number of stake- and post-holes which suggest either some sort of windbreak or drying structure associated with the burning. Several other stake-holes were located to the south of the burning and may have formed another windbreak. From this area a number of sherds of Bronze Age pottery were recovered from the fills of the post- and stake-holes, including several that contain a decorative pattern (possibly incised and corded ware). To the south-west of this area was a large subrectangular shallow pit which exhibited signs of in situ burning and may have been a corn-drying kiln or sunken hearth with a possible drying rack.
A number of charred nuts (possibly acorn) and fragments of Bronze Age pottery were recovered from a tree bole in the north-east of the site, several metres to the west of the burnt area, and a single fragment of Bronze Age pottery was found in another tree bole several metres to the south-west. A single possibly early medieval glass bead was also recovered from a small feature in the south of the site.
It is probable that the activity on Site 11 occurred during several different periods and no clear settlement was located within the confines of the CPO. Any associated settlement is likely to have been to the west at the summit of a small hill or possibly to the west and closer to the silted flood-plain/streambed.